Renee Irene Willenbring

May 31, 1920 – September 3, 2012 Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 10, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Renee Irene (Oster) Willenbring, age 92, who died Monday at the Assumption Nursing Home. Entombment will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish Prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Monday morning at the funeral home. Renee was born on May 31, 1920 in Cold Spring, MN to Daniel and Emma (Ellenbecker) Oster. She married Joseph Willenbring on June 16, 1947 in St. Boniface Church, Cold Spring. Renee graduated from St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring in 1937 and attended St. Cloud Business College. She was one of the first women to work for the Cold Spring Granite Company from 1937 until she married in 1947. Renee and Joe celebrated 63 years of marriage together and raised four children. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Renee will be missed dearly by all who knew her kindness and gentle spirit. Renee loved life and felt blessed to have her family and friends. Renee and Joe were long time members of couples’ bridge club. They belonged to the Ball and Chain Club. She was an avid bowler in her youth. Renee also had a passion for learning about her heritage and was a dedicated member of the local (St. Cloud) Genealogy Chapter. Renee enjoyed her unusual collection of buttons and met with the Button Club for years. She was a long time member and leader of the American Girl Scout Association. Renee volunteered for Birth Right and the Great River Regional Library for many years. Renee is survived by her children, Bede (Vonnie) of New Hope, Catherine (Brian) Schmucker of Cold Spring, Michael (Joan) of Jacobs Prairie, Thomas of St. Cloud. Grandma Renee will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Andrew (Rebecca), Joseph (Jessi) and Rosemary; Aaron (Betsy) Schmucker, Nicole (Dallas) Apold, Kathryn and Amy Schmucker; James (Janet), Robert (Amanda), Jessica, Cheryl, Noah, John, Thomas, and Baylee. Great-grandchildren: Megan and Chelsea; Soren, Hanna, and Sander Apold; Adam and Evan Schmucker; James and John; Abigail; Sol Wilder. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joseph John; brother, Jack Oster; sisters, Rosemary Koop, Yvonne Haffley and Delores Lang, infant twins, Michael and Emma Oster; great-grandson, Isaac. Renee was the last of her immediate family to die. She had fond memories of her parents, who died at a relatively young age. Renee treasured her time with each of her siblings. She spoke often of them in her later years.

Renee Irene Willenbring

May 31, 1920 - September 10, 2012