James “Jim” Edward Renz, born January 26, 1937 in Indiana, PA, son of Carrie Lou (Strickler) and Paul E. Renz, died October 19, 2016.  He was 79 years old. 

Jim will want to be remembered as a passionate, straight forward, and hardworking man who set high expectations for the people he was accountable including himself, his coworkers, and his family.  He lived by example and was never reluctant to put in long hours.  He was always the first one to go to work in the morning and the last one to quit working in the evening.  His tenacity and passion for perfection will long be remembered.  He loved his family and expressed his love for them by being a diligent provider.  He was still employed until he became ill just seven weeks ago.

His earliest jobs included being a newspaper carrier for the Indiana Evening Gazette and a golf caddy at The Indiana Country Club.  He began working for the Dairy Dell in 1951 when he was just 14 years old and worked his way to assistant manager by age 20 and managed the Dairy Dell on Philadelphia Street in Indiana at age 24.  He continued in the restaurant and food industries working as a Deli/Bakery Supervisor for the Penn Traffic Company’s Riverside and Bilo grocery stores for more than 35 years.  He briefly owned and operated the Fox’s Pizza in Barnesboro, PA.  His final employment was transporting cars for local retailers including Colonial Motors, Day Audi, and Delaney’s.  His hobbies included golf and traveling.

He is survived by these children; Joyce Ann; and Patrick Joseph Renz, Indiana; Michelle S. (John) Reed, Marion Center; and stepchildren, Christina Genchur, Robert W. Thomas, and Lauri Ann (Bob) Shoup, all of Indiana; 11 grandchildren, Matthew Genchur, Michael Shoup, Melissa Shoup-Gheen, Keith Thomas, Megan Frycklund, Patrick Renz, Austin Renz, Amanda Schrecongost, Jacob Renz, Zoe Renz, and Emily Reed; 7 greatgrandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Donald P. (Beverly) Wagner, Summerfield, FL.

Friends will be received from 10am to 11am on Saturday at the John A. Lefdahl Funeral Home.  A Memorial Service will immediately follow in the Lefdahl Chapel with Rev. Micah McMillen, officiating. 

Interment will be private.

The family suggests contributions may be made to VNA Hospice or VNA Extended Care in Jim’s memory. 

 Service Information