Paul Renken, 90, died Sunday, February 27, 2022 in Bridgeport, NE. His funeral service will be held at 10am on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport with Reverend Jonathan Berosek officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will follow at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport or the Institution for Creation Research. Online condolences may be made by viewing Paul’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home in Bridgeport is entrusted with arrangements.
Paul was born June 13, 1931 in Flagler, CO to Hazel and Rufus Renken and later moved with his family to Mitchell, NE. He was a Korean War-era veteran of the U.S. Army. He graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Pharmacy and worked at the old Corner Pharmacy and Scottsbluff General Hospital early in his career. He married Delores (Dee) Waggoner on September 7, 1960 and they enjoyed 61 years together. In 1966, he was hired by the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company and moved to Amarillo, TX. While in Amarillo, Paul and Dee attended St. Stephen United Methodist Church and were members of the Covenant Sunday School Class. They both also sang in the Celebration Singers and the STARS choir. In June 2021, he and Dee moved back to the Panhandle of Nebraska and settled in Bridgeport.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Jean Ann Douthit, and brother Robert Renken. Paul is survived by his wife, Delores; his children Lynne Groom and husband Jay of Gresham, OR; daughter Laura Douthit and husband Mark of Bridgeport, NE; son Jon Renken and wife Kelly of Sugar Creek, MO; three granddaughters Bailey, Alexis and Kyra, and great grandchildren Rebekah, Kyrin, and Isela. He is also survived by his sister Ellen Johannsen and numerous nieces and nephews.