Richard E. "Dick" Rentsch

Richard E. "Dick" Rentsch, age 82, a life-long resident of Strasburg, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2015, in his home, from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Born May 13, 1933, at home in Strasburg, he was a son of the late Russell P. and Emma C. (Johnson) Rentsch. Dick graduated from Strasburg-Franklin High School in 1951, and went on to serve honorably with the United States Army. He married the former Beverly J. Kaiser on August 3, 1957, who survives. Dick was a skilled carpenter, and was employed by Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools for twenty-six years, retiring in 1999.

He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ at Strasburg, and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Dick especially enjoyed following his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's school and sporting events, and family vacations to Tennessee. He was a great fan of Strasburg sports, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers (he loved basketball), Browns and Ohio State.

In addition to his loving wife, Beverly, he is survived by his daughters, Tammy (John) Fouts of Strasburg, Kathy (fianc, Jeffrey Schaefer) Rentsch of Loudonville, Linda (Brent) Metzger, also of Strasburg, and Shelly (fianc, Nash Gabrail) Rentsch of Massillon; his grandchildren, Ben (Lyndsay) Paisley, Adric, Curtis and Kellyn Ickes, Erin and Brock Metzger, Jimmy (fiance, Anne) Harper, Christopher Rentsch, Dylan Harper, and Mike O'Connor; his great-grandchildren, Solomon and Isaiah Casler, Grace, Zachary, Klohe, Karle and Landon Harper, Noelle and Ian Paisley, Catelyn and Emma O'Connor; his three sisters, Clara (Jim) Clarke of Denver, Colorado, Bernice Hall of Newark, Ohio, and Norma Freitag of Strasburg; his brother, Russell Bruce Rentsch of Norfolk, Virginia; and his many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his much-loved granddaughter, Crystal O'Connor, earlier this year; his sister, Betty Brugger; and his brother, Robert Rentsch.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory , Dover, on Thursday, September 10, 5 8 p.m. A funeral service, officiated by Pastor Jason Rissler, will be held Friday, September 11, at 11 a.m., in the funeral home. Burial will be in Strasburg's Grandview Union Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the Dover post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The family suggests that contributions in Dick's memory be made to the National Parkinson Foundation of Central and Southeast Ohio, 2800 Corporate Exchange Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43231.