Elaine Evelyn Rensink

Ashton, IA Elaine E. Rensink, age 92 of Ashton, IA died Friday, May 27, 2011 at Sanford Senior Care Center in Sheldon, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Ashton, IA, with Reverend Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Gilman Township Cemetery in Ashton. Visitation will be Monday, May 30th from 4-8 P.M. with the family present from 6-8 P.M. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Ashton, IA. Elaine Evelyn (Arnold) Rensink was born in Harris, Iowa on October 20, 1918 to Carl and Christine (Weichman) Arnold. Her early life was spent on the family farm in the Lake Park, Iowa area. She attended Lake Park and Swea City, Iowa schools. She graduated from Lake Park High School in 1936. She attended the Sioux City Methodist Hospital Nursing School and graduated as a registered nurse in 1940. She worked in Sioux City, Sibley and Boone, Iowa. Elaines favorite areas of nursing were obstetrics and surgery. Elaine married Lawrence Rensink on May 22, 1945. She and Lawrence moved to Ashton, where they owned and operated Rensink Hardware for fifty years. Elaine and Lawrence had three children: Lorraine, Paul and Ruth. Elaine enjoyed raising her three children. She always kept a clean house and spent many enjoyable hours in her large vegetable and flower gardens. Elaine was a wonderful baker, and her family remembers enjoying her special cinnamon rolls and tea wreath on holidays. Elaine and Lawrence lived in Ashton for sixty-six years and were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Ashton. Elaine was a past president and treasurer of the Presbyterian Womens group. She taught Sunday school and Bible school, and participated in many Christmas pageants. Elaine faithfully read daily devotions and Bible study. Elaine always enjoyed good health until 2003, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Lawrence was her devoted caregiver at home for four years, and her daily visitor for the four years she spent at the Sanford Senior Care Center in Sheldon, IA. Elaine is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Lawrence Rensink of Ashton; her three children, Lorraine Lange of Baraboo, WI, Paul Rensink of Spirit Lake, IA and Ruth Rensink of Eden Prairie, MN; one brother, Allen Arnold of Des Moines, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Christine Arnold; one sister, Dorothy Arnold; and two brothers, Lee Arnold and Dr. Keith Arnold. Elaines family would like to thank the staff and nurses of Sanford Senior Care Center in Sheldon for their dedicated and loving care during Elaines stay.