Pauline E. Renke

Captain Pauline E. Renke, age 95, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at the Addison Place in New Castle, Indiana in the presences of her great nephew, Kameron Ford.

She was born November 18, 1919, the 7th child of Samuel and Alpha Lenora (Pressel) Eilar whom resided East of New Castle, Indiana. She graduated from New Castle High School in 1938 and received her B.S. Degree in Science Education from Ball State Teachers College in 1942. She married a local boy, Clifford Brown on May 31, 1942. They both enlisted in the WWII efforts, Clifford enlisted in the Navy and Pauline left her teaching position in Indianapolis to join the Army (WAC). She was in active duty from January 1943 to February 1946 and was promoted to Major. On May 11, 1945 Clifford was killed in action while serving on the Bunker Hill aircraft carrier.

On July 23, 1947 Pauline married William Renke, native from Alberta, Canada. He was a Lt. Colonel and Chief Psychologist in the U.S. Army hospital in Japan. After WWII they moved to Grand Fork, North Dakota where William earned his PH degree and Pauline earned her MA degree. In 1953 they moved to Muncie, Indiana where William was a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Ball State University and Pauline taught Science, Home Economics. Physical Education and was a Psychometric Tester for the Muncie public school system.

In 1984, after retirement, they moved to Meadowood Retirement Center, in Bloomington, Indiana. William was killed in an auto accident, June 27, 1987, and Pauline continued to reside at Meadowood for twenty-two years. Due to health problems she moved back to New Castle, Indiana in 2008 to be near her niece and caregiver Dixie Ford and family.

She loved to travel, which has taken her many places around the world. She enjoyed golf, mountain climbing, trail hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and YMCA activities. She was active and held offices in many community affairs and organizations such as the League of Women Voters, Activist Rights, state and local elections, UU Church activities, Habitat for Humanity and many more. She attended the Unitarian Universalist in Bloomington, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Alpha Eilar; husbands, Clifford Brown and William Renke; sisters, Clara Francis (Herbert) Clapp, Mabel (Fred) Yockey, Hazel (Hugh) Morrison, Dorothy (Francis) Laurie and Mildred (Roy) Howard; brother, Norman Eilar and dear friend and traveling companion, Wayne Mitter.

Surviving nieces and nephews include, Dixie (Rodney) Ford, Calvin (Kay) Yockey, Buford Yockey, Joy Constantino all of New Castle, IN, Annie (Donald) Lindley of Pensacola, FL, Alice (Danny) Collins of Pershing, Warren (Mary) Howard of LaPorte, IN, Rosemary Sayre of Forest City, FL, Ralph (Susan) Eilar of Rialto, CA, Pearl (Charles) Donica of Ogden, UT, Nona (Danny) Hope of Busby, MT, Douglas Lauf of Wibauz, MT, William Lauf, of Vernal, UT and several great nieces and nephews.

Her family would like to thank the caregivers of Addison Place for taking such wonderful care of her. They were so kind and understanding and went out of their way to help in whatever she needed. They were a true blessing. To her it felt like home these past 4 ½ years and considered the staff family.

Calling will be at 2:00 p.m. and services at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, 3406 S. Memorial Dr., New Castle, IN 47362. Burial will follow in Brick Cemetery in Hagerstown, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Women’s League of Voters and Humane Society. Condolences and memories of Pauline may be expressed at www.hinsey-brown.com .