Dwight Rench 1885-1959

Funeral Services Held Sunday For Dwight Rench, Prominent Devils Elbow Business Leader

Dwight Rench, 74 years old, resident of Devil’s Elbow, and who for the past number of months had been in failing health, passed away at the Phelps County Hospital in Rolla last Friday. Mr. Rench had been an engineer of the State Health Department for ten years, but had resigned recently due to ill health.

Possibly a few men in Pulaski County had as many close, personal friends as did Dwight Rench, who through his courteous and kindly manner made friends wherever he went. He was born in Christian County, Illinois, August 30, 1885. On December 23, 1904, he was united in marriage to Bertha Higgins of Edinburg, Illinois, and to this union three children were born, Myron Rench of Competition, Harry Rench of Devil’s Elbow, and Mrs. Paul Landers of near Dixon. Three grandsons, Larry and Bruce Alle Rench, and Terry Landers, and one granddaughter, Beverly Ann Rench Strub, one brother and six sisters, two daughters-in-law, Jessie Rench and Pearl Rench, and one son-in-law, Paul Landers, also survive.

Mr. and Mrs. Rench moved to Devil’s Elbow in 1927 and established a fishing lodge on the Big Piney River.

Dwight was a public spirited man and gave much of his time to public improvements in his community, count, and state, he has been a member of the board of directors of the Laclede Electric Coop since it was founded…
death, having been elected every three years and attended his last meeting at Lebanon only a few days before his death. He was a member of the Waynesville Lodge No. 375 AF & AM, Houston Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, and the Rebekah IOOF Lodge at Crocker. He was an elected member of the Pulaski County Health Center since its organization and was always a faithful member of his lodges and other organizations.

At the time of his death he was a member of the Sheppard Baptist Church near Dixon, he was converted in 1904 and joined the Baptist Church at Edinburg, Illinois and lived a consecrated Christian all his adult life.

Funeral services for Mr. Rench were held Sunday afternoon at the Gilbert Funeral Chapel in Dixon with Rev. Gomer Wright officiating. Members of the Waynesville Lodge attended in a body and Masonic rites were given. Interment was in the Hooker Cemetery under direction of Gilbert Funeral Home of Dixon.

(Handwritten Note: Born 30 Aug, 1885 Died 27 Nov, 1959)