James C. Renaud

August 7, 1951 – August 16, 2024

James Charles Renaud, 73, passed peacefully into heaven on Friday August 16, 2024. He was born on August 7, 1951, in Lincoln, NE, to Dale and Elizabeth Renaud. He Graduated from Northeast High School in 1969 and received his bachelor's degree in education in 1973 from the University of Nebraska. Jim taught welding at Arlington High School for 1 year and then worked in maintenance at ISCO for 40 years until retirement in 3/2018. He was one of the initial Food Net Volunteers and operated a food giveaway in his driveway.

Times were simpler and his early years were often spent playing ball with his family (boys vs girls) in the backyard with an occasional broken window. He tells of sledding on 70th St. when it was a dirt road. He earned his Eagle Scout Ranking and also lettered in tennis and was 1st chair in Band with his trumpet.

Jim met his wife Lori during a summer fling and courted her long distance for 3 years. They married in 1979 at St Marks Lutheran Church in Pender, NE. They lived in Malcolm, NE for 8 years before moving to their current home in Lincoln in 1987. Jim enjoyed all outdoor activities and would participate in marathons, fishing at the family cabin, and canoeing. But most of all he was a family man. He was very involved in their lives and was the one who also prayed and tucked them in at night. When he had grandkids, he had the best lap to sit on and loved to tell stories of "the good ole' days".

People may say Jim was a man of few words, but he was the one to lend a helping hand, often in the background, away from the glory diligently getting the job done. There wasn't a thing he couldn't fix around the house or a car he hadn't worked on. He was able to do so much with so little. There was always a "honey-do" list and he didn't complain. He and Lori never ran out of things to talk about.

But the main thing I admire about Jim was his unwavering faith. He loved Jesus and surrendered his life to Him after returning from their honeymoon and a street evangelist had told them about having an actual relationship with Jesus. When they came back they started looking for a church and joined a bible study of friends that became like family and disciplined them and the bible became a light for living their lives. He loved to worship. Even as Alzheimer's clouded his memory 9 years ago, he still loved to lift his hands, clap, and praise the Lord. I'm sure he is first chair in heaven with the angels rejoicing.

The life Jim lived may not be the one he had planned. But I tell you this with all assurity—God does have plan for each of our lives and He is good and loves us. On this journey I have seen how He has placed people and situations that have prepared us for this. He has always provided. Alzheimer's is such a gradual disease that you adjust along the way and grieve in stages. Memories are created by what we do-not by what we think. Yes, I am sad at times and I can't fully understand the "why". But I do trust God with the "todays" knowing that eternity with Him is what lies ahead. My prayer is that all of you here that are celebrating Jim's life have asked Jesus into your hearts that we will all one day be in heaven together. It's not by our works or our perfection. It's not how good or bad we've been-but solely by making the choice to receive the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to provide forgiveness for our sins. What a joyous life we have ahead!!

Jim is survived by:

Wife – Lori Renaud

Son – Daniel Renaud of Lincoln, NE (Brandon, Andrew, & Hailey)

Son – Robert and Jen Renaud of Bellevue, NE (Abigail, Gwen, & Lillian)

Son – Michael and Nicole Renaud of Lincoln, NE

Daughter – Julie and Ryne Bessmer of Omaha, NE (Joel)

Sister – Sarah and Maynard Oliverius of Lawrence, KS

Brother – Jerry and Saranne Renaud of Lincoln, NE

Brother – Don and Megin Renaud of Baltimore, MD

Jim was preceded in death by:

Parents – Dale and Elizabeth Renaud

Sister – Mary and Vern O'Neil

EVENTS:

Memorial Service – September 7, 2024 10:30 a.m.

Mercy City Church 6224 Logan Ave, Lincoln, NE

Luncheon immediately following the service

(In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mercy City Church/Outreach

or directed to the family for their designation)

An Alzheimer's Poem

Do not ask me to remember

Do not try to make me understand.

Let me rest and know you're with me,

Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I am confused beyond your concept,

I am sad and sick and lost.

All I know is that I need you to be with me

at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with me.

Do not scold or curse my cry.

I can't help the way I'm acting,

Can't be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,

That the best of me is gone.

Please don't fail to stand beside me,

Love me till my life is done.