Louis "Lou" Christopher Wren

Louis “Lou” Christopher Wren of Riverdale, Iowa, passed away on July 9, 2024 after bravely contending with a cancer diagnosis. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 11:00 am at Edwards UCC. Visitation will be on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Weerts Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Edwards Endowment Fund, in Lou Wren’s memory, in care of Edwards United Church of Christ, 3420 Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport, Iowa 52807.

Lou was born on July 14, 1941, at Moline Public Hospital in Moline, Illinois, Lou was the beloved son of James Orion Wren of Temple, Texas, and Gladys Winona Parlier Wren of Watertown (now East Moline), Illinois. He was cherished in the community for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to those around him.

Lou often referred to himself as a “construction brat” due to his father’s career in United States infrastructure construction, which led Lou to attend nine schools in twelve years through Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Despite the frequent relocations, he graduated from Davenport High School in 1959 and pursued further education at the University of Illinois. It was there that he met his future wife, Norma Genevieve Swanson, from Chicago, Illinois. He and Norma married in Chicago at the South Shore Community Church on December 29, 1961, and later attended the University of Iowa together. After welcoming their first child, Christine, in March of 1964 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to help run one of the first franchised Dairy Queens with his beloved Aunt Grace Parlier DeGeeter. What was meant to be a one-year stint turned into a three-year adventure, where they managed the Dairy Queen around the clock for nine months each year. During this time, they had their second child, Christopher “Topher,” in December 1966 and eventually decided to return to the Midwest, welcoming their third child, Heather, in Davenport, Iowa, in 1970.

Lou began his appraisal career in 1968 with a brief foray into residential real estate sales with Mel Foster Company, after which Mel, Sr, suggested appraisal as a better fit for his analytic skills and clarity of vision. He earned the prestigious MAI and SRA designations from the Appraisal Institute, an international association of professional real estate appraisers and received the REALTOR® Emeritus from the National Association of REALTORS®. As the founder and Senior Partner of Wren Appraisal, L.C., he was known for his honesty and integrity, earning respect from colleagues, clients and the community alike. He held certifications as an Iowa General Certified and Illinois General Certified Appraiser and an Iowa Real Estate Broker’s license. Wren Appraisal has also been long time volunteers with Habitat Humanity including providing pro bono appraisal work as part of the homebuyer process. Lou was also on the Veterans Administration appraisal panel providing VA home loan appraisals which he always considered an honor and was proud to supply high quality appraisal for our U.S. veterans. Lou was a member of the Employee Relocation Council. He actively participated in local and regional Appraisal Institute committees, serving as president of the Iowa Chapter of the Appraisal Institute’s predecessor, the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, and as Regional Vice President for the Appraisal Institute.

Outside of his professional life, Lou was passionate about his family. An active member of Edwards Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) since 1968, he and his family became fixtures in the church community. Known for his fiscal conservatism, he led the endowment investments for thirty years, significantly impacting the sustainability of mission trips and scholarship programs. He was an active volunteer with the church's youth group and led many bicycle trips to Wisconsin. Lou and his wife Norma were instrumental in raising funds and sponsoring donations to install a world-class Casavant Frères Opus 3763 pipe organ at Edwards in 1998.

Lou was a long-time resident of Riverdale, buying his property in 1976 and moving into their new home in June of 1979. After an August 1979 tornado destroyed much of the home, the family rebuilt it while camping in the front yard. Lou was a longtime volunteer in Riverdale, Iowa lending his expertise to the Planning and Zoning commission for 17 years and served as Zoning Inspector for 20 years. Lou was recognized by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow for his volunteer services to the community.

Lou was dedicated to attending his children's numerous activities, from recitals to sports events, and often returned to work in the evenings or on Saturdays. Lou’s love for the Chicago Cubs was legendary among friends and family. He spent countless hours listening to their games on his headset while mowing his acreage in low gear. Bicycling was a family vacation activity, with Lou and his young family participating in one of the first Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), the Tour of the Mississippi River Trail (TOMRV), and rode various Wisconsin trails.

Lou is survived by his loving family, including his wife of sixty-two and a half years, Norma Wren; children Christine Wren (Robert Dean) of Austin, Texas, Christopher “Topher” Wren (Kristina) of Omaha, Nebraska; Heather Wren (William Baumgardner) of Riverdale, Iowa; and daughter in spirit Angela Snyder of Ames, Iowa. Along with long-time family friend and office manager Theresa Ralfs (Jerry) of Davenport. He is also survived by his brother, Robert James Wren, and grandchildren Jackson Wren, Hunter Wren, Grayson Wren, Noah Snyder (Hayli), Miles Snyder, Kiah Snyder, and Liesl Snyder.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents, James Orion Wren and Gladys Parlier Wren, his aunts, Grace Evelyn Parlier DeGeeter and Helen Jewel Parlier Dopler, along with numerous aunts and uncles and his grandson, Lars Kristoffer Meseke Wren.

Lou was a devoted son, brother, uncle, and father who always put his family first, creating cherished memories that would last a lifetime. To all his angels, thank you.

Lou will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His legacy of love, kindness, and generosity will live on in the hearts of those he touched.