LOUISE CHRISTINE RENOUX

LOUISE CHRISTINE RENOUX was born at home in Avondale, Colorado, in 1928 to Lucien and Minnie Renoux, their fourth child. Her mother died when Louise was only three years old, and she was raised on the Mesa under the watchcare of her father, her 70-year old French grandmother, and older siblings Kenneth, Marguerite and Lorraine. Louise attended and graduated Valedictorian from Pleasant View School. From her early teen years she was enamored with and determined to join the Air Force. Louise attended the University of Colorado in Boulder until she reached age 21, and then shipped off to basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and radio operator's school in Biloxi, Mississippi. Her tenure in the Air Force was first at the Flight Services Center in Dayton, Ohio. It was there she met and became engaged to Captain Charles Ray Spath, an Air Force F-86 pilot. A year to-the-date that the couple announced their wedding plans, Captain Spath was shot down over North Korea. This profoundly influenced the remainder of Louise's life and she dedicated much of her time and energies as a volunteer with the POW/MIA program. Louise continued to serve in the Air Force in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan, recruiting for the Army and Air Force. Upon discharge, Louise went to Europe on a “rehabilitation tour” which was the beginning of many travels she made over her lifetime to France, Israel, South Korea and Russia. Back to civilian life, Louise attended Midwest Business College for a year and then held more than 15 jobs in eight cities, ranging from Stenographer for the FBI at their Washington, DC/San Francisco Offices and the National Freedom Shrine Foundation in the 50's; the Sheraton Palace Hotel and National Steel in the 60's; Executive Secretary to the Chairman of Husky Oil Company in Cody, WY and Atlanta, GA in the first half of the 70's. Louise returned to Colorado in 1975 to be the Assistant Director of Issues for Roy Romer's Campaign for Governor. Following the gubernatorial campaign, she took a position as Administrative Secretary to the Director of the Denver Art Museum, was involved with the Denver Symphony Women's Guild, and the Denver-Karmiel Committee (linking Denver with a Sister City in Israel). For this work and many volunteer/charitable activities, Louise was awarded the 1979 Denver Metro Area Service Award. During the 1980's Louise returned to California and worked for the Solar Turbine, MEGATEK, and Zenographics companies. At the end of the decade she returned to Colorado and worked at Manpower in a variety of positions with the Denver Department of Social Services, U.S. West and DOW, while doing studies at Metro College. From the mid 1990's and forward, Louise gave her time almost exclusively to her church (St. John's Lutheran of Denver) and her work with the POW/MIA program, making many trips to Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and South Korea to meet with veterans and families of veterans. She received many recognitions for her work and was given the Certificate of Ambassador for Peace Medal by the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Louise was part of the Honor Flight from Denver to Washington D.C. in 2018. She is also honored at the Pueblo Veterans' Bridge and on a monument in South Korea. As her health deteriorated, Louise returned home to Pueblo in the Spring of 2018 and enjoyed living at Royal Plaza and The Villa apartments, becoming a part of the Bethany Lutheran Church fellowship, and being with family and friends. Louise often joked that if she did not die soon and get to heaven, everyone up there was going to think she'd gone to “the other place.” One afternoon in early June 2021, Louise slipped peacefully away to that glorious reunion with those gone before and with her God. Louise was predeceased by her parents, all her siblings and their spouses, and by two of her nephews, Chuck Haling and Conrad Renoux. She is survived by four nephews: Ken (Ingrid Baker) Haling, Ron (Glenda) Renoux, Rick Hall and Dwayne Hall, and great nephews/nieces: Trent, Grant, Avalon and Kendra Haling; Shawnna (Jim) Nunn, Dawn Haling; Matt (Kelly) Renoux, Karen (Bjarne) Renoux, and Andrea and Taylor Hall, as well as numerous great great nephews/nieces: Ryan and Jordan Wells, Carlee Nunn; Kimber (Tim) O'Meara and daughter Skylar, Andrew Doering, Leah Doering, and Sonnett Renoux. She also had a foster child whom she sponsored for 12 years while in school. Louise leaves behind special long-time friends Dave and Gloria Moody, David Moody Jr. and Linda McQuarrie, Judy Holden, Jason and Jennifer Herbal and children Carson and Hadley, and Jerry and Debbie Solano—all whom she considered chosen family as well. Louise had so many life-long friends in so many places--too numerous to list—but she was treasured and will be missed by all. Memorial Service 1pm Monday July 5, 2021 Bethany Lutheran Church.