Michael Joseph Renner Sr.

Michael Joseph Renner, 90, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on April 22 at Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center. He was born in Kansas City on September 25, 1933 to Louis and Leta (nee Nichols) Renner. As a Lillis High School football star, he attended the then Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg for two years on a sports scholarship before being drafted into the U.S. Army. After discharge in 1956, he married Beverly Kissgen, the love of his life for 65 years until she passed in 2023.

In 1964, Mike opened the famed Mike’s Tavern at 5424 Troost in a big brick building owned by his father. For over 30 years, UMKC and Rockhurst college students, alumni, faculty, neighborhood regulars, Kansas City Blues Rugby Club players, lawyers, day drinkers and pool players frequented Mike’s to imbibe in the conviviality of conversation, burgers and cold, cheap beer.

After Mike’s, he and his brother, Rich, owned and operated another popular bar-and grill. With Twin City Tavern he was most proud of his food and being the first KC bar to serve beer on draft from a budding Boulevard Brewery. Later, for over 20 years Mike served as food and beverage manager at Danny Jackson’s erstwhile Incred-A-Bowl, drawing a whole new crowd of regulars who appreciated his attention to service and customers.

Later in life, Mike enjoyed the creativity and solitude of painting, spending hours mixing paint instead of drinks while churning out hundreds of pictures in his vivid, rustic style. Always rational and practical, he described himself as a quiet person who didn’t like “to make a big hullabaloo about things.” And yet this unassuming, kind, patient man who loved reading horoscopes to us, who calmly dispensed advice as needed and who could fix anything had a tremendous impact on all those who knew him.

He is survived by his children Michael Jr., twins Paulette Cascio (Michael), Patrice Thompson (David), and Kristina Hook; grandchildren Meighan Worsley (Bertram), Brooks Thompson, and Benjamin and Helana Hook; and sister Carol (Schaeffer).

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Villa St. Francis and Catholic Community Hospice for their compassionate and extraordinary care provided to our parents over the years. A private family-only service will be held at McGilley State Line Chapel. Donations may be made in his name to Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center, 16600 W. 126th St., Olathe, KS, 66062, villasf.org