Obituary of Adolf Renne

November 5, 1922 - Buhl, Idaho, USA

February 25, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Gustav “Adolf” Renne of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at the age of 101 years.

Adolf was born in Buhl, ID, USA, on November 5, 1922. His family moved back to Estonia before immigrating to Canada in 1936, when they settled on a small farm in the Eckville, AB area. Having suffered some health issues as a young man that made him unsuitable for heavy farm work, Adolf left for Calgary, AB, where he married Greta on June 28, 1958. They left Calgary for Ponoka, AB, and then Edmonton, AB, before moving back to Calgary in 1979.

Adolf accomplished much in his life: he attended night school while working to gain his CMA, and worked as an accountant for several decades, before retiring at around the age of 70. He would boast of never having missed a day’s work, even as he was an active father to two children. He enjoyed woodworking and built much of his first home in Calgary as well as the garage on the family home later in life. He was an avid reader of politics and history and remained interested in current events almost until his passing in 2024.

Adolf’s most memorable vacation was when he drove the family to Disneyland in California from Edmonton, AB, with two parents, two children, and a dog sharing a station wagon and a tent trailer for two weeks on the road. He will be most remembered for his genial nature and self-effacing attitude, which endeared him to his family as well as his caregivers in later life.

His wife Greta passed away in 2017 after almost 60 years of marriage. Adolf is survived by his daughter Glenda and son-in-law Gord Savage, who reside in North Vancouver, as well as his son Garth and his wife Katherine, who reside in Calgary. He has four grandchildren, Dylan, Robin, and Tegan Savage in Vancouver, and Ian Renne in Calgary. He is also survived by his younger brother Thomas Renne and his two daughters, Kathleen and Colleen, along with their families.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Adolf’s family here.

In living memory of Gustav "Adolf" Renee, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.