Representative Robert H. Renken View All Years

Compiled Historical Information
Date of Death: 12/29/2018
Party Affiliation: Republican
Assemblies Served:
House: 68 (1979) - 76 (1995)
Home County: Grundy
Robert H. Renken
Grundy County

ROBERT H. RENKEN

Robert H. Renken was born September 25, 1921, son of Renke H. and Bertha Renken. He graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1940. He married Patricia Cavanaugh on November 1, 1946, and their union created one child.

Enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942, he was honorably discharged in 1945 and he moved to Portland, Oregon. He and Patricia lived in Portland for five years where he worked as a zone manager for International Harvester Company. In 1951, the couple moved back to Iowa and lived on the family farm near Aplington where he farmed and raised purebred Herford cattle for 60 years.

Robert was elected and served as State Commander for Iowa Department of AMVETS from 1958-1959; National Executive Committeemen for Iowa Department of AMVETS from 1961-1962; Chairmen of Grundy County Republican Central Committee for four years; several county commissions and Grundy County Board of Supervisors in the 1970’s.

He was a charter member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, Iowa Farm Bureau, AMVETS, beef producers, pork producers and the National Herford Association.

Robert was a Republican from Grundy County. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in a special election in 1979, serving for nine terms. During his time he served on the following committees: Administration and Rules, Commerce, County Government, Energy, Labor and Industrial Relations, Local Government, State Government, Transportation, and Ways and Means. He served as Assistant Majority Leader from 1995-1997.

Representative Renken passed away on December 29, 2018, at the age of 97.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA, That in the passing of the Honorable Robert H. Renken, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express its appreciation of his service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

PAT GRASSLEY

MARK SMITH

SANDY SALMON

Committee