Joanne Kennedy Renterghem

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Joanne Kennedy Renterghem age 91 of Greenville passed away Nov. 27, 2020, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was born in August 1929 and raised in Ironwood, the daughter of John and Anne (Olson) Kennedy where she graduated from high school. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in education.

Mrs. Renterghem was married to the former Lemont Renterghem in August 1956 in Ironwood, and they raised their three children in Niles and Brighton, before settling in Greenville.

She is survived by sons, John (Barbara) Renterghem of Wayland, Massachusetts, and Jeff (Wendy) Renterghem of Chicago, Illinois; son-in-law, David Roos of Raleigh, North Carolina; grandchildren, Alexander and Allison Roos and Jessica and Janelle Renterghem; brother-in-law, Van King of Kalamazoo, and nephew, Scott (Kimberly) King of Northville, and niece Robin (Russ) Panico of Kalamazoo; along with her sister-in-law, Jill Kennedy of Ironwood, and nephews and nieces Lisa Kennedy, Patrick (Lori) Kennedy, Amy-Lee Kennedy and Ryan (Carley Clements) Kennedy.

Joanne will be remembered by her family and friends for her sense of adventure, appreciation of nature and animals, socializing with community members that spanned all generations, flair for design and fashion plus immense passion on being active and eating healthy. She loved to ski and take walks around Baldwin Lake, along with traveling and the Danish Festival.

Joanne was full of energy and very involved in the community and was an inspiration in how she remained active and involved until her passing. She quickly made Greenville her home serving as a Welcome Lady for Greenville newcomers. She played bridge weekly, was involved in the Thalia Club and the Greenville Federated Women's Club, both clubs' part of the Hospital Auxiliary. She became a Master Gardener, was active in the Greenville Garden Club and volunteered at Frederick Meijer Gardens. She shared her floral design talents with the community, local nursing homes and St. Charles Catholic Church. She enjoyed her flower gardens and always took a bouquet of flowers wherever she went. As part of the St. Charles Arts and Environment group she made beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary each week and for many church-related events. She participated in many other St. Charles activities, Bible studies, prayer groups, the Altar Society, served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass and for the homebound, helped at the Welcome & Information Hub and volunteered to serve meals to those in need at Degage in Grand Rapids. Her thoughtful generosity of reaching out to connect will be missed. Joanne embraced the rhythms of life.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lemont (2018); her daughter, Julie Roos (2017); and her brother, Duncan Kennedy of Ironwood, in 1996.

Joanne's Memorial Mass will take place on Friday, Sept. 9, at St. Charles Catholic Church at 11 a.m. with Rev. James Wyse as celebrant. A visitation will be held at Hurst Funeral Home on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Greenville Area Community Foundation (101 N. Lafayette, Greenville, MI 48838), Clay Street Center (913 S. Clay St., Greenville, MI 48838) or St. Charles Catholic Church (505 S. Lafayette St., Greenville, Michigan, MI 48838).

Memories and messages of condolence may be sent via hurstfh.com(http://hurstfh.com).