Renola Wegner

Renola Myrtle Semerau was born June 8, 1937 in Hutchinson, MN to Howard and Elvira (Steljes) Semerau. She grew up in Hutchinson, graduating from high school in 1955 and was active in many activities. On October 10, 1957, Renola was united in marriage to Adrian Wegner at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. The couple lived in Mankato, MN and summered in Fort Collins, CO while Adrian completed his Master?s Degree. They lived in Milan, MN for several years where they enjoyed the close-knit community of teachers and made life-long friends. In 1967, after one year in Bemidji, Adrian and Renola moved to Lake Victoria in Alexandria, where they lived until Adrian?s death in 2001. Renola enjoyed lake life, spending many a fall day fishing for walleyes, and a summer day mowing the lawn and tending to her flowers. In 2001, Renola moved to her present home where she enjoyed the freedom of townhouse living. She especially enjoyed growing mums and visiting with her many friends, many of whom she knew for 30,40 or nearly 50 years. Renola was a social butterfly, and gravitated to work and volunteer positions where she could interact with others and meet new friends. She worked for several years at Carlos State Park, retiring from there in 1997. Later, Renola worked at Ron?s Warehouse Sales where she enjoyed meeting new people and finding good deals. Wherever she went, Renola made friends easily, and was known as the little lady with the big smile and bigger heart. In her free time, Renola enjoyed spending time outside, camping, traveling, gardening, looking for rocks, going to the casino and taking drives. She was an avid Vikings fan, and rarely missed a televised game. After retirement, Adrian and Renola spent much of their time in their motorhome, wintering in Arizona and camping their way across America. Renola?s favorite thing, however, was always her family. She especially loved being a grandma to Amanda, Spencer, Landon and Lindsay, and, most recently, a great grandma to Reece. She was the kind of grandma who wore pins of her grandkids long after the season ended, and carried a brag book with her wherever she went. Renola was her grandkids? biggest fan in whatever they did. She will be missed by them the most. On Thursday, October 10, 2013 ? on what would have been her and Adrian?s 56th wedding anniversary, Renola passed away at the St. Cloud hospital. She was seventy-six. Renola was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Elvira, as well as her husband, Adrian. She is survived by her two daughters, Lynn Timm and husband, Dave, of Carlos, MN, and Lori White and husband, Jerry, of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; four grandchildren, Amanda Olson Vanderstelt and husband, Eric, Spencer Timm, Landon Olson and fianc� Lisa Fischer, and Lindsay Timm; and one great-grandson, Reece VanderStelt. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, October 14, 2013 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Reverend Kathryn Rothman officiated. Interment followed in the Carlos Prairie Cemetery in Carlos, MN. Honorary pallbearers included Renola?s grandchildren, as well as her many dear friends.