CLIFFORD D. RENEKER

Clifford D. Reneker (Cliff) passed away on March 27, after a long illness.

Cliff was born on January 16, 1934, to Eugene and Ada Reneker of Tuscarawas.

He graduated from Tuscarawas High School in 1951, and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He achieved the rank of Sergeant, serving in Hawaii and Japan. Cliff loved to tell stories of his days in the Corps.  One of his favorites was when he went to sleep at the base of Mount Fuji, only to awaken in his bedroll the next morning under a foot of snow.

Shortly after his service, in 1958, he married Erma Robinson.  Cliff and Erma became sweethearts after meeting at a roller skating rink, where Erma “accidentally” knocked Cliff over—at least, that’s the version Erma always told.  They had five children, Belinda, Beth, Eric, Crystal, and Darla.  Cliff was very proud that all his children earned college degrees.

Through the years, Cliff was employed by the Evans Clay Plant, General Electric, Alsco, First National Bank of Dennison, and the Tuscarawas County Juvenile Attention Center, where he was known as a stern, but compassionate counselor.  “Mr. Cliff” loved playing ping-pong with the kids there.

He was a long-time Uhrichsville resident, living his final years at Country Club Retirement Center in Dover.

While his children were in band, Cliff was active in the Claymont Band Parents. He spent many hours attending sporting events, band concerts, and Scouting events for his children and grandchildren.

Cliff had a fascination with birds, especially hummingbirds.  He spent many hours watching them from his patio.  One of his favorite activities was gardening-his yard was always full of his flowers and bird feeders.  Cliff loved doing puzzles of all sorts, especially jigsaw puzzles, and always seemed to have a large, difficult one in progress.

A skilled woodworker, Cliff provided his handiwork to his friends and family in the form of squirrel feeders, doll cradles, and many other items—this gave both him and the recipients great enjoyment.  He also did many remodeling projects at home and for others through the years.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, as well as his brother, Bob Reneker and sister, Della Liggett.

Cliff leaves behind five children:  Belinda (Dennis) Check of Copley, Beth (Eugene) Newton of Uhrichsville, Eric (Angie) Reneker of Bluffton, Crystal (Jason) Korn of Green, and Darla (Derek) Leyda of New Philadelphia; siblings Gloria (George) Shepherd, Gerry Waldron, and Cheryl Keeney; brothers-in-law, Charles Robinson (Virginia) and Ray Robinson (Wilma); sisters-in law, Bette Reneker, Doris McComb, Vera Paden, Joyce Walton, and Helen Haga.

Also, nine grandchildren will miss their “Pappy”: Jacque, Michael (Jesse) and Angela Newton; Denny and Bryan Check; McKenna and Kaden Reneker, Donovan Leyda, and Jarod Korn; as will three great-grandchildren: Aidin, Aron, and Alice Newton.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 5:00-8:00 at Uhrich-Hostettler English Funeral Home and a funeral service will be held there on Friday at 11:00.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Hospital at www.stjude.org

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