Lois Irene Renz

It is with deep sadness that we share that Lois Irene (Auk) Renz passed away on April 30, 2020, a day after her 73rd birthday. Lois was born to Stanley and Ruth Auk in McKees Rocks, PA. She was a 1965 graduate of Montour High School. She had been a resident of Tampa since the late 1960s, after proudly serving in the US Air Force in Biloxi, MS. She was a volunteer at the Straz Performing Arts Center for over 10 years, and was a Girl Scout leader for many years. She was also a breast cancer survivor. She is survived by her son, Kevin Renz, and his wife Leigh-Ann (Waynesville, NC), her daughter, Kelly McNeal, and Kelly’s husband, Jim (Gainesville, FL), and three wonderful grandchildren, Teague McNeal, Tevyn McNeal, and Anika Renz. She especially enjoyed her role as “Grammy” to her grandchildren, and instilled in them her love of reading, and love of goats. She always had a story to share, and a contagious laugh that coincided with her wonderful sense of humor. She also loved music (especially The Beatles), watching English soccer on Saturday mornings, English TV shows (her favorite being Poldark), traveling, playing games, and spending time with her family and friends. Lois was a friend to all, a wonderful, caring Mom (known affectionally to her children as “Mez”) and a superb Grammy. She will be missed by all her closest friends who laughed and enjoyed her fun-loving personality. "The Group" of 14 friends, who met monthly, many of whom she knew for 50 years, will miss her sense of humor greatly. We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff on the COVID unit at Advent Health Tampa on Fletcher Ave. for their loving care of Lois in her final days. A celebration of life will be held in Tampa as soon as circumstances permit. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Lois’ name to one of the following: The Hole in the Wall Gang (New Haven, CT, founded by Paul Newman), Friends of the Smokies, or St.. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital