Lavina Rennekamp

LAVINA A. RENNEKAMP

10/12/1918 – 5/2/2015

Cedar Rapids

Mrs. Rennekamp was born Lavina Anna Hasley on Oct. 12, 1918, in her parents' home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was the second of four children and the only girl, which meant she was frequently called away from her dolls to play baseball with the boys when they needed an extra player. After completing St. Patrick's High School, she worked for a time in a variety of positions, including Woolworth's Department Store. She met and wed Gene Rennekamp on April 18, 1942, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2003, almost 62 years later. When he was drafted, and after he returned from World War II, she worked at Collins Radio Co. until her only child, Joan, was born in 1951.

When Joan was born, Lavina became the consummate homemaker. She was a fantastic cook and fabric artist in all forms. While she wasn't very comfortable behind the wheel of a car, she could steer a sewing machine to create beautiful fabric dolls and stuffed animals, stylish clothes for Joan's dolls, and clothing for the entire family. She also created hand-sewn quilts that are filled with beautiful design and detail. After Joan left the home, she continued to sew for the Mercy Medical Center Gift Shop and logged over 10,000 hours in volunteer service to this local hospital.

Lavina and Gene moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2000 to live closer to their daughter and grandchildren. After Gene died in 2003, she became active in a local library group and enjoyed attending the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, as well as the operas broadcast by the Metropolitan Opera. She read constantly, even though visually impaired, and was a great supporter of the Talking Book Library.

Lavina loved reading, beauty, truthfulness, her garden, and, most of all, her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, and her three brothers, Sylvan, Dale and Robert.

She is survived by her daughter, Joan (Larry Grimaldi), and her grandchildren, Annemarie Theresa Grimaldi and Andrew Louis Grimaldi.

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade, Colo. Interment will follow in a brief ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral in Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor should be sent to the Colorado Talking Book Library, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic or any local or national opera company.