Charles A. Rennpage

Charles (“Charlie”) Arthur Rennpage passed away on December 25, 2023, at West Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, Georgia. Charlie was born at home on 9-17-1929 in Ottertail County, Minnesota, the son of the late Alonzo T. and Antoinette Arlene Fiedler Rennpage.

While in high school, Charlie was an excellent baseball pitcher, hurling several no hitters. Due to his short stature, the major leagues were beyond his reach. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and received the Japanese Occupation, Korean Service, United Nations, and Good Conduct Medals for meritorious service.

After Charlie’s stint in the military, he had a long and varied career. He was a diver aboard an abalone diving boat when the crew found the wreckage of the paddle steamer “Winfield Scott” in December 1953, almost 100 years after she sank at Anacapa Island off the California coast. Later, he joined Associated Divers, repairing offshore oil rigs. With D. Murray (“Blackie”) Black, he cemented in the first oil platform in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Summerland, California. He assisted Blackie on the three deepest hard hat, compressed air dives ever made (312 feet) at the Hyperion Waste Treatment Plant off El Segunda, California, around 1957.

After his diving career, Charlie worked in the electrical field until his retirement. As a traveling electrician, he helped wire a 5000-foot molybdenum mine at Questa, New Mexico. After arriving in Georgia, he got his state electrical license and worked for Ideal Electric Company in LaGrange, Georgia, for 23 years.

Charlie was a life member of VFW Post 4629 in LaGrange, Georgia. He served on the board of Self Help Harbor, Inc. and volunteered at Pathways Center in LaGrange. After his retirement, he joined the Heard Art Association and learned to do mosaics—at age 80! He was instrumental in installing a public artwork in Franklin called “Franklin’s Kite,” a large, 6-circuit labyrinth with mosaic pieces decorating the benches at the entrance and the center. He became quite proficient at rendering historic buildings in mosaic glass, and a few of his works are hanging in churches in Franklin. He was a member of Franklin First Methodist Church and enjoyed attending Heard County Senior Center.

Charlie is survived by his son, Christopher (Chris) Rennpage of Keene, NH; brother, Eldred Rennpage, of Mansfield, OH; sister, Vivian Cline, of Strongsville, OH; stepdaughter Judy Gurr (Jim) of Alden, MI ; stepdaughter Mickey Sampson of Winchester, VA; stepson, Roger Tackett, of Buford, GA; and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a host of cherished friends including Beth Burgoon, who, in Charlie’s final days, made sure he was well taken care of. The Rennpage/Cline family is deeply grateful for Beth’s friendship and care for Charlie.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sandy, and brothers, Harold, Earl, and Wendell. He is remembered by many as a sweet, bright, unassuming soul.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, January 19, 2024 at Franklin First Methodist Church in Franklin, GA.

In lieu of flowers, you may send gifts to Self Help Harbor, Inc., at P.O. Box 2716, LaGrange, GA 30241 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital at St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636