JOHN RAYMOND RENKEN, age 94, of Worthington, died Monday, November 4, 2024, at the Sanford Worthington Medical Center. He was born February 27, 1930, in Ashton, IA, to John J. and Jennie (Wessels) Renken. He farmed with his family near Ashton and Sibley, IA.

John entered the United States Army in February of 1952. He served his country during the Korean Conflict. He received the Combat Infantry Badge (after thirty days on the line), the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Metal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. After returning from Korea in November of 1953, he returned to farm with his father north of Reading. John later purchased the farm with his brother, Ervin.

He was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association. He enjoyed farming and loved the country where he could watch squirrels, woodchucks, and other wildlife in the grove. He also enjoyed collecting toy tractors, his electric trains and going to sales where he could socialize. John was a gifted welder and mechanic who could take a tractor apart and put it back together. In his later years, he often enjoyed hopping in his pickup truck and driving around to look at the fields.

John is survived by his three siblings, Ervin Renken, Worthington; Janette Harthun, Maplewood; and Marilyn (Duane) Hagberg, Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Jean Renken, Rapid City, SD; two brothers-in-law, Milford Elsing, Sioux Falls, SD; and James Cunningham, Worthington; and many nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harlan and Jim Renken; two sisters, Delores Elsing and Sandra Cunningham; a sister-in-law, Norma Renken; and a brother-in-law, Harlan Harthun.

Funeral will be 10:30 am Friday, November 8, at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Worthington, officiated by Pastor Jason Cunningham. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Burial with full military honors provided by the Worthington American Legion & VFW, will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.