Ronald Patrick Renkas (age 73) entered eternal rest peacefully with his loving wife Staffa and 3 daughters by his side.  After a courageous battle with cancer, the Lord called his son home.

Ron was born on March 17th, 1948, on the family farm in the Hubbard district.  He was the 4th oldest of nine children born to Joe and Tillie Renkas.  He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Hubbard and Ituna.  In his early years Ron was a talented and avid sports player which included softball, hockey and track and field.

Ron worked in road construction before he turned to farming for several years.  This led him to his true passion of welding where he worked at Ipsco, Stik’s Welding and finally Babcock and Wilcox where he retired after 25 years of service in 2017.

In July 1970, Ron married the love of his life and best friend Staffa Kutas.  Together they had Ron’s proudest and greatest accomplishments, his three girls Lana, Carmen, and Jacqueline.  Ron’s greatest love and legacy are his seven grandchildren Ethan (15), Davis (13), Hayli (12), Karson (10), Dayne (8), Ella (9) and Emily (7).  His grandchildren were the light of his life and together with Staffa they drove many miles to attend birthday parties, baseball games, football games, Christmas concerts, and First Communion celebrations.

Ron was a friend to everyone he met and could strike up a conversation on any topic.  Many of these conversations took place around the three-spot table where he still claims the number one spot.  He always seemed to make his nine no trump bid with only the 5 of hearts in hand.  Ron had a gift of telling the best jokes and bringing laughter to all family gatherings.  He spent many enjoyable hours perfecting his homemade wine recipes, making sausage, jiving on the dance floor and playing his favourite music.  He loved and collected gadgets and had his own room dedicated to this collection. Ron also loved his Saskatchewan Roughriders and never missed a game even this past year when he fell ill.  Ron and Staffa’s favourite pastime was driving down old country roads in search of chokecherries, wild mushrooms and the perfect black dirt for Staffa’s flowerpots. 

Ron was predeceased by his father Joseph in 1988, his mother Tillie in 2011 and brother Casey in 2011. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Staffa; his children and their families;  Lana (Scott) Reeves and their  children Davis, Hayli, Karson and Dayne, Carmen (Tim) Garstin and their children Ella and Emily, Jacqueline (Brent) Haas and their son Ethan; his brothers and sisters, Lawrence (Fran) Renkas, Leonard (Rosalia) Renkas, Valerie (Lorne) Lewko, Louise (Clint) Molesky, Colleen (Connie) Gherasim, Larry (Jodi) Renkas, Cameron (Linda) Renkas, sister-in-law Eleanor Renkas and many nieces and nephews.

Our family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical community that provided care and support for Ron over the past 13 months.  A heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Saint Peter’s Hospital in Melville for their compassion and comfort that was given to Ron in the past 3 weeks.  

The Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, Ituna, Saskatchewan with Rev. Fr. Albert Schmitz as Celebrant. The cross bearer was Davis Reeves (Grandson). Organist Paulette Van der Helm led the hymns with St. Stanislaus Choir. The lectors were Louise Molesky (Sister) and David Renkas (Nephew). Prayers of the Faithful were given by Lana Reeves, Carmen Garstin and Jacqueline Haas (Daughters). The honorary pallbearers were all of Ron’s precious grandchildren. A private family interment was held in the Ituna R.C. Cemetery with Ethan Berube (Grandson) serving as urn bearer. Memorials in honour of Ron may be made to the Cancer Foundation of Sask. or to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation as gifts of remembrance.

“Go rest high on that mountain

Son your work on earth is done

Go to heaven a-shoutin'

Love for the Father and the Son”

         Vince Gill