Marvin Renaud, 78, of Grinnell, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at Unity-Point Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, at Grinnell Christian Church. Interment was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery north of Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be designated to the Marvin Renaud Memorial Fund, mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Marvin Eugene Renaud was born the son of James and Gladys (Elscott) Renaud on May 10, 1943, in Oskaloosa. He was raised in Taintor and Searsboro respectively and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School with the Class of 1961. Marvin honorably served in the Iowa National Guard 1964 to 1970.
Marvin was united in marriage to Nancy Ruth Waddle in Des Moines on Sept. 23, 1966. Their marriage was blessed with four sons, Kent, Kurt, Kraig, and Kyle. They raised their family in Grinnell, and Marvin was a longtime employee at Miracle Recreation and Miraco in Grinnell. Marvin and Nancy were members of Grinnell Christian Church.
The love of his family was very strong, and his faith in the Lord was profound. He was a proud father of his four sons and enjoyed attending and encouraging them at their sporting events. He worked hard to provide for his family, mowing several yards and doing snow removal in addition to his main employment. He held a passion for athletics, especially basketball, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He coached his sons’ youth AAU basketball and baseball teams He was a longtime basketball referee who officiated hundreds of games over his 30-year career. In his spare time, he loved working on his cars and keeping them immaculate. Marvin will be remembered for being patient, humble, and kind, for being a hard worker and particular, and for being a great husband, father, and grandfather, also known as papa to the grandchildren.
Marvin is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Renaud of Grinnell; four sons, Kent (Teresa) Renaud of Rapid City, SD, Kurt (Sarah) Renaud of West Des Moines, Kraig (Vanessa) Renaud of Marion, and Kyle Renaud of North Liberty; 7 grandchildren, Marissa, Izzy, Rylan, Alec, Amilya, Jakob, and Joshua Renaud; and his siblings, Elaine (Arie) Scholten of Sully, Keith (Glenda) Renaud of Lynnville, and Dennis (Melanie) Renaud of Lynnville. He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandsons, Job and Zachary Renaud; and his brother, Laverne (Nancie) Renaud.
