Donald Renne

EAST DUBUQUE, Ill. -- Donald E. Renne, 78, of East Dubuque, died Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque, surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, East Dubuque, with the Rev. James Parker officiating. Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corp. League. Friends may call from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque.

He was born on Aug. 15, 1931, in Waukon, Iowa, son of Melvin and Ethel (Knuppe) Renne. He was a graduate of Dubuque Senior High School. He served as a captain in the Army during the Korean conflict.

He married Shirley Koehler on Aug. 30, 1958, in Scales Mound. They recently celebrated 51 years of marriage.

He worked at the former Dubuque Packing Co., and was a proud member of Local 150A for 35 years, retiring in 1981.

Don's hobbies included fishing, hunting, bowling, gardening, woodworking and playing cards with good friends, of which he had many.

Don also was a longtime avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. But his greatest joy in life was his grandchildren and the many adventures they would come to share with Grampa aka "Gramps."

He was loved very much by all of us and all who knew him, and he will be missed very much.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Shirley Renne; two daughters, Brenda (Jack) Hocking, of Asbury, Iowa, and Danita (Dale) Skaggs, of East Dubuque; a son, Kevin (Sue) Renne, of East Dubuque; a granddaughter, Colbi Ellen Skaggs; five grandsons, Klayton, Jacob, Joshua and Mitchell Renne and Colton Skaggs.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; a brother; and a stepbrother.