Richard Renschler

Richard J. Renschler, Sr., 88, of Waco, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2006, in Providence Hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, October 2, at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Jack Mullins officiating.

Burial with military honors will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.

VISITATION
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation hours.

BORN IN SOUTH DAKOTA
He was born February 26, 1918, in Avon, South Dakota to George Renschler and Rosina Schmidt. He had six siblings, three brothers and three sisters. His Dad, from Russia, and his Mom, from Germany, met on a ship in route to America.

Richard became a Christian in his childhood and was Lutheran all his life.

He met his wife, Norma Dean Renschler, in 1942, when he came to Waco to attend the U.S. Army's Waco Flying School.

MARRIAGE
They married on June 13, 1942, at the Waco Wedding Chapel on Elm Street and their union spanned 63 years of marriage. Norma preceded him in death on December 11, 2005.

Richard was the first draftee of World War II, when his number was pulled out of the bin by President Roosevelt and announced by the press nationally.

ARMY AIR CORPS
When Richard finished his Army Air Corps tour, with an honorable discharge, he began the Renschler Radiator Shop in 1944. Richard and Norma had two sons, Richard J. Renschler, Jr. and Thomas Wayne Renschler, both who reside in Waco and run the parent company, which is now Renschler's Automotive.

Richard was involved in all the activities that his sons were, which over the years included participation in soapbox derbies, bowling, golf, camping, dominoes, boating and fishing. He enjoyed gardening, because he had grown up on a farm, and grew tomatoes and watermelons in his backyard.

He loved dogs and horses and he especially enjoyed horse races, bingo, visiting with bingo and domino buddies, and telling stories about Waco in the early days of the Cotton Palace, old-fashioned soda fountains, Diamond Hamburger's, the Waco tornado, and the Austin Avenue drag.

Even in his 80's, he is remembered fondly for jumping on trampolines with grandchildren, riding on motorcycles, and making German homemade pickles.

RETIREMENT
Richard retired from Renschler's in 1970 when he turned the business over to his sons.

He and Norma Dean did everything together from that time on. They enjoyed bingo, dominoes, traveling, and participating in school and sport activities of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

SURVIVORS
Richard is survived by his sons, Richie and Tom. He leaves behind three loving grandchildren, Tierny Renschler Kruger, of Woodway; Kriste Renschler Bogans, of
Oceanside, California; and, Skyler Burleson Renschler, of Waco. He leaves five adoring great-grandchildren and loving daughter-in-laws, Beverly Renschler and Dana Renschler of Waco.

He has two surviving brothers, Hugo Renschler of Vermillion, South Dakota, and Alvin Renschler of Meckling, South Dakota; and three sisters, Ella Renschler Severson of Vermillion, South Dakota; Linda Renschler Clay of Vermillion, South Dakota; and Leah Renschler LaFerrea of Shelton, Washington.

PALLBEARERS
Pallbearers will be David Crutchfield, Lynn Hassel, Brian Nicholson, Bob Detlefsen, Clint Kelley, and Jim Weaver.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wilburn Lessman and Louis Miller.

MEMORIALS
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post 121, at N. 3rd and Tennessee, Waco, TX 76708 and the Waco Center for Youth, 3501 N. 19th, Waco, TX 76708.