Frank Frederick Renshaw

Frank Frederick Renshaw, of Plymouth, peacefully departed this life March 10 at age 86 after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer and lymphoma. Frank leaves behind a legacy of kindness and service to others, which were lifelong traits. Frank is survived by his wife of 62 years Madaline (Elenz) Renshaw; children Kristin (Patrick) Eichers, Stephen (Manel) Renshaw, grandchildren Alexis, Madaline, Martin, Erin and Christian; great-granddaughter Gabriela. Preceded in death by his parents Archie and Bernice.

Frank was born in Huron, SD on Feb. 13, 1938.  The Great Drought forced them to leave the family farm in 1941.   Frank’s father, Archie, went to work for the U.S. Government Civil Service in March 1941, based in Corozal in the Panama Canal.  In September 1941, Frank’s mother Bernice drove the family car with Frank, Bernice’s sister Ester and son Vernon to Louisiana, got their car on a boat to the Panama Canal, and joined Archie.  Frank and his family returned to Huron in December 1945 after WWII.  They rented a house until 1948, when they moved into a new home built by Archie at 770 Montana SW in Huron.  Archie and his brother-in-law Ernie Passenheim worked in the family business, Passenheim Electric, started by Frank’s grandfather Fred Passenheim. The family business provided Frank many opportunities to learn about wiring buildings and repairing small electronic appliances.  

Frank went to elementary school a block away from home, then to Huron High school (graduating in 1956) and later to Huron College, during which time he met his wife-to-be, Madaline Elenz, of Woonsocket, SD (1959).  Frank transferred to SDSU Brookings for a Mathematics and Statistics degree.  During the summers of his SDSU years, Frank worked in construction.  Frank married Madaline on July 1, 1961.  Shortly thereafter, the newlyweds moved to Minnesota when the Bloomington school district hired Madaline as a 3^rd grade teacher.  

With help from friends in the construction business, Frank set about building their own home in Plymouth.  Back then, grasslands and corn fields still bordered the streets.  Frank and Madaline lived in that home together for 59 years, welcoming a daughter, Kristin, in 1965 and son Stephen, in 1967.  Over the years, Frank’s children and their families benefited from his knowledge of electricity, construction and car maintenance.

Throughout the coming decades, Frank turned to his math skills working for Pillsbury, IBM and Control Data Corporation (computer services division later acquired by Ceridian). At first, Frank joined Pillsbury's Operations Research group in November 1961 and helped to implement its first computer modeling of wheat management. Pillsbury, with a new computer about 1963, becomes the first time-sharing company in Minneapolis and, for a few years, is the only one in town. Pillsbury later becomes part of partnership in Call-a-Computer, Inc. with five data centers across the country, Frank handling three of these. Pillsbury backs out of time-sharing by the late 1960s and Frank joins IBM about 1970. Then in early 1972, IBM sells its time-sharing to Control Data Corp. (CDC), which ends up with full time-share market for about two years. Frank then continues with CDC/Ceridian at its headquarters until his 1995 retirement. 

After retiring, Frank joined up with Madaline to start “Madaline’s Perennial Garden Designs,” achieving multiple community recognitions in the western suburbs for their award-winning projects.   

Frank’s strong faith and heart for service to others naturally led him to join the Holy Name of Jesus parish staff for 17 years; first as their IT problem-solver, and later as Minister of Extraordinary Needs.  Frank served in numerous ministries:  Special Needs, Adoration Chapel, Cursillo, Befrienders, Vacation Bible School, Choir, Bible study, Lenten Morning Prayer, Holy Name Campus Gardens, Serra Club/Pray for Priests Calendars, Knights of Columbus and Frank’s Bingo Parlor. Frank helped with funerals by providing music CDs and DVDs of the service to families.  Frank and Madaline served as marriage prep counselors, served on the Cana Dinner team and were coordinators for the Prayer Shawl Ministry (started by Madaline).   Frank also conducted worship and communion services at Clare Bridge Memory Care at Brookdale Plymouth.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the Methodist Hospital staff, Mayo Clinic staff, all the caregivers who attended to Frank and Madaline these past few years, their Plymouth neighbors who made themselves available to help at any hour, day or night, and all the Holy Name community whose uplifting love and support will never be forgotten.

Visitation will be held at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Medina at 9:30 AM on Wednesday March 27,2024, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM, and a lunch gathering afterward. Charitable contributions can be made to Hammer Residence (https://hammer.org/give), Alzheimers Research (https://www.alz.org/donate), or the home care fund for Madaline Renshaw (checks payable to Madaline Renshaw).  

God Bless!