Aileen Elizabeth Renkel

Aileen Elizabeth Renkel, 94, of Fountain Hills passed away peacefully on Sept. 6, 2018, in Scottsdale.

Aileen was born in Giard Township, Clayton County, Iowa, on Dec. 3, 1923, to Clifton and Milda (Glesne) Meyer. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Ev. and Reformed Church in Elkader, Iowa, and graduated from the Elkader High School in 1941. She attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and then moved to Hollywood, Calif., where as an accomplished vocalist, she sang professionally in Los Angeles.

While in California, Aileen met her future husband, William (Bill) Renkel, Jr. and they were married on April 13, 1947, at Peace Church in Elkader. Aileen and Bill worked in the reservation department for American Airlines in California.

They moved to Texas and later to Fairfield and Westport, Conn. In Connecticut Aileen worked in a bank’s trust department and then, until her retirement, as a travel agent for Tauck Tours. In 2001, she purchased her home in Fountain Hills, where she was an active member of both her community and her church, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

Aileen loved to travel, and took her mother, Milda, and son, Mark, on numerous trips and tours. Hawaii was one of her favorite destinations, and she traveled there frequently. A strong, resilient woman who endured unusual loss and hardship in her life, Aileen was a remarkable survivor, and her grit and determination were an inspiration to all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Renkel Jr. (1972), her son, Mark (2008), father, Clifton Meyer (1925), mother, Milda Roggensack (1999), step-father, Delbert Roggensack (1972), brothers, Carroll (2007) and Robert (2018) Meyer, step-brother, Tom Roggensack, father- and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Renkel Sr., sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kleindienst and Vivian Meyer, and special friend, Bill Haden.

She is survived by her brother, John C. Meyer, nieces, Roberta Boyd, Jane Thein, Gina Pruitt, Joyce Numedahl, Patti Wacker, Pauline Meyer, and nephew, Bruce Meyer, step-sister, Darlene Tilton, sisters-in-law, Lorene Meyer and Darlene Meyer, godson Dean Acosta and numerous cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and her many friends.

A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 16150 E. El Lago Blvd., Fountain Hills, Arizona, on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch. Graveside services and inurnment will be held at the East Side Cemetery in Elkader, Iowa, at a date to be determined.