Memorials › Frederick James “Fred” Renze
Frederick James “Fred” Renze
20 Jun 1922 – 8 Aug 2000
| Birth | 20 Jun 1922 |
| Death | 8 Aug 2000 |
| Cemetery | Queen of Heaven Cemetery Rowland Heights , Los Angeles County , California , USA |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170410818 |
Bio
Frederick James Renze, age 78 of Whittier, California, died Tuesday, August 8, 2000. He has been a resident of Whittier for 46 years. Funeral Mass was held on August 14 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Whittier, California. At the Queen of Heaven Cemetery, an honor guard was present from March Air Force Base. Mr. Renze was born June 20, 1922 in Hubbard, Nebraska. He graduated from high school in Texarkana and received a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas. During World War II he was part of the United States 8th Air Force, 3rd Air Division, 45th Combat Wing Station 136, Knettishall, England, from 1943-1945. His duties as a specialty navigator were to direct aircraft and he was responsible for leading formations of aircraft to and from designated enemy targets. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross at age 22. He also holds the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters for his share in the fierce battles with Nazi flak and fighters in the war's toughest air theater. Fred flew 35 Combat Missions in the B-17 with the 8th Air Force. He then went on to retire from the Military Reserve on November 2, 1967 as Lieutenant Colonel Frederick J. Renze. Fred did some teaching in his Reserve unit. Additional medals which Fred was awarded were National Defense Medal, World War II Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign with 5 stars, American Campaign and Armed Forces Reserve Air Force. Mr. Renze met his wife, Tana, while in the Air Force, stationed in Waco. They were married in 1952 in Sacramento, California. They moved to Whittier, California in 1953 and raised five children. Mr. Renze started a career in the Aero Space Industry. He worked for Rheem, Aerojet General and ended his career at age 76 with McDonnell Douglas/Boeing. He spent many years volunteering with Catholic Charities, Finance Committee at St. Mary's Church and serving on the Water Board at Green Valley Lake. Fred is survived by his wife, Tana Jares (a former resident of West) of 48 years. He is survived by one son, Rick Renze and his wife Sandi of Whittier, California and their children Tyson and Molly. He also had four daughters, Carol Ferguson and her husband Ron of Whittier, California and their children Andrew, Chase and Melanie, Tana Ann Renze of Manhattan Beach, California and her children Katie and A.J., Joan Doherty and her husband Bill of Whittier, California and their daughter Mary Margaret, Barbara Basham and her husband Tim of Austin and their children Joey and Elli. He is also survived by two sisters, Marie Civitello and Blanche Holzer and several nieces and nephews. The West News, West, Texas, Volume 110, No. 30, Edition 1, Thursday, August 24, 2000, page 5
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