Renee Zodrow

Renee Mary (Shreve) Zodrow was born on December 12, 1949 in Colby, Kansas to Marie (Rodenbeck) and Pete Shreve. Renee grew up just south of Colby and graduated from Colby High School. After high school, Renee studied nursing. She became a registered nurse and soon after, met Joseph Zodrow on a blind date. They dated and were soon engaged to be married. Joe and Renee were wed on June 17, 1972 in Leoville, Kansas. To this union, three daughters were born: Aimee Renee, Rebecca Jo, and Cassie Jo. Joe and Renee raised their daughters in Leoville. Renee was a devoted wife and loving mother. She loved raising her girls in Leoville. While she had little experience with cooking when she was first married, Renee became well-known for her amazing cooking. She loved to cook big meals for her family. She often told about the first time making mashed potatoes and gravy for Joe. The gravy was too thick and the mashed potatoes too runny so they put their potatoes on top of the gravy.

Renee worked as a registered nurse while raising her family. Her fiery spirit, compassion, and work ethic made her an exceptional surgical nurse. Renee joked that she liked being a surgical nurse because her patients were asleep, but anyone who knew her, knew she was only kidding. She was an avid patient advocate and cared deeply about the patients she helped care for. Renee’s nursing career started in Colby and moved to Oberlin. After she retired, she even worked for a brief period in Oakley.

Renee loved animals and had an adventurous spirit. She got her motorcycle license before she married Joe and never let the license lapse. She and Joe loved to do day rides around northwest Kansas and Renee was always the leader of the pack. In recent years, her beloved dog, Rudy would even ride for short distances with her on her trike.

Renee was a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Leoville where she was a member of the Altar Society. She worked hard each year to help the parish with the Fall Festival. One of Renee’s main jobs for the event was to make the stuffing each year. She would spend hours toasting bread and making the stuffing taste amazing. Renee also spent a lot of time in the summer mowing and caring for the church and cemetery grounds.

Renee died on October 11, 2020 at Logan County Hospital surrounded by family. Her warm and fiery spirit and infectious laugh will forever be missed. Renee was preceded in death by her mother, Marie; father, Pete; brother, Sandy; mother-in-law, Mary Ann Zodrow; father-in-law, Conrad Zodrow; and son-in-law, Dane Flora.

She is survived by her husband, Joe; daughter, Aimee and Mike Zimmerman of Oakley; daughter, Rebecca Flora and Hubert Linenberger of Hays; daughter Cassie Zodrow and Dave Flipse of Oakley; grandchildren, Cole, Jenna, Kade, and Cody Zimmerman, Wayne and Caleb Flipse, and Madeline Williams; great-grandchildren, Jax and Zoe Flipse and Cooper Williams; sisters-in-law, Pat and Ed Conard and Sharon and Keith Karnes; and brothers-in-law, Tom and Michelle Zodrow, and Paul Zodrow.

Visitation is 2-4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2020, at Immaculate Conception Church, Leoville, with a Vigil at 4:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be offered on October 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. also at the church, with burial following at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Leoville. Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Fund or for Masses and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com