Renee was born on August 31, 1929, to Madeline (Ficker) and Richard (Jim) Ruegemer. Renee was the oldest of three children. She grew up in Richmond, MN on her parents’ resort on Horseshoe Lake. She attended Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Richmond and St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring. After graduation she attended the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. Illness prevented her from completing her freshman year. She began working at the Cold Spring Brewery in the office. It was there that she got to know Earl Miller who became the love of her life.
Renee and Earl were married on October 1, 1949. They moved to South St. Paul after their honeymoon and soon bought a house in St. Paul, where they raised their four children, Lynne (Glen) Weber, Diane (Jerry) Stapleton, Michael (Cindy) Miller, and Mary (David Ische) Weber. Renee was greatly loved by her grandchildren, Jodi, Missy, Jennifer, Rheanna, Keena, Sarah, Lindsay, Caitlin, Lu, Matt and Bryan. She was Great-Grandma or Gigi to her nineteen great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.
Faith and family were Renee’s life. She was devoted to her family and deeply committed to her Catholic faith. She volunteered for church activities, was a Eucharistic minister, volunteered at Dorothy Day and Meals on Wheels. She and Earl were very involved with the American Ex-POW organization and held leadership positions at the state level.
Renee and Earl loved to travel and visited Europe, England, Ireland, Canada, and numerous states in the U.S. She continued to travel with her sister after Earl passed away.
Renee was an avid reader for her entire life. She was into crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles and was a huge Jeopardy fan. She enjoyed entertaining and continued to do so even after she moved to her assisted living apartment.
Renee was the last of her generation on both sides of the family. She was a role model as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. She will be greatly missed by so many.
Renee was preceded in death by her husband Earl, parents, brother Donald, sister Jeanne and brothers and sisters-in law.
Funeral mass will be held at Lumen Christi (2055 Bohland Ave.) on Friday, August 21st with the visitation at 9 a.m. and mass beginning at 10 a.m.
