Renee Kolke, age 75, of Cambridge died April 10, 2012 at Cambridge Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, April 13th at Strike Funeral Home – Cambridge Chapel with Dr. Roger Anderson officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids.
Renee (Sunde) Kolke was born January 26, 1937 in Park Rapids, Minnesota to Palmer R. Sunde and Sadie (King) Sunde. She attended schools in Park Rapids and graduated in 1955 form the area high school. While working as secretary in the high school office she met Earl Kolke of Moorhead, Minnesota, a teacher in the high school; they married December 27, 1958.
In 1959 Renee and Earl moved to the Minneapolis area where Earl had accepted a teaching position in the Richfield school system. The couple was blessed with two sons Dana (Kelly) Kolke of Braham and Darren (Ann) Kolke of North Branch. Renee spent three decades raising her boys and helping her husband. They were fortunate to be able to travel and made trips to Alaska, the western states, east and west coasts, and the provinces on Canada’s east coast. Renee was an ardent sport enthusiast and avid Gophers, Twins, Wolves, Vikings and Wild fan. They moved to Park Rapids for several years where they had built a log home on Little Sand Lake. After their retirement to Cambridge in 1996, Renee and her daughters-in-law organized a Holiday House Boutique for several days in October and November. This boutique gave an outlet to local crafters for fourteen years. Renee’s grandchildren Jenna, Jessica, Holly, Jacob, Sadie, and Levi will especially miss her as will her entire family. Renee lived for her grandchildren. She attended New Beginnings Church in Cambridge and enjoyed doing handwork, cross stitch and needlepoint.
Renee died April 10, 2012 at Cambridge Medical Center at the age of 75 years, 2 months and 15 days. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Sunde.
Renee is survived by her husband, Earl; two sons, Dana and Kelly, Darren and Ann; her six grandchildren; special cousins, Ruth Truax and Loren King; and by many other relatives and friends.
I am so sorry to hear about Renee’s passing. I often thought about your mom and my mom and the visits. My heart goes out to your family.
We are so sorry to hear about Renee. She was a special and great lady, our thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of you,
Hattie, Butch (Diann), Mike, Mark, Alan (Patty), Gloria (Larry). The Edward Sunde Family