Glasgow, Montana native Robert (Bob, Bobby) Eugene Rennick, Jr., the oldest son of Donna (Nelson) and Robert Rennick, Sr., was born May 10, 1967, and died at his home May 1, 2016.
Bob embraced life and education. His first diploma is displayed at the Valley County Pioneer Museum from the Shirley Buechler Kindergarten 1973. He continued attending Glasgow schools, graduating from Glasgow High School with the class of 1985. Always cheerful and eager to please, Bob did well academically and excelled in speech, drama, and music activities. Then it was off to Northern Montana College, Havre, where he continued his involvement in both academics and extra-curriculars, receiving his Bachelor’s in 1989. He later received his Master’s Degree in Counseling from NMC in 2009.
His professional career began in the fall of 1989 in Winifred, Montana, where he remained for nine years, loving the grades 7-12 English, drama, speech, and photography students and the community. Although finding it difficult to leave, strong familial responsibility drew him back to Glasgow and GHS the fall of 1998, teaching first in a variety of grades 9-12 English classes and later serving as counselor, his position at the time of his retirement in 2014. He was also employed professionally by the Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, teaching English and psychology courses in the outreach program. The welfare of his students, academically and emotionally, was the uppermost in his mind, always hoping through caring concern that their lives might be better for having encountered him.
Mr. Rennick spent much time on his extra-curricular activities, first as a participant and then as a speech and drama coach, cementing many solid relationships throughout Montana. He kept in regular contact with many of his former students and colleagues, most of them not realizing how dire his physical condition had become.
He received recognition from a variety of professional organizations; he was a practical (never mean-spirited) joker, and was so looking forward to voting for a Democratic president this fall. His musical tastes were eclectic. He traveled the NW attending concerts. He loved moves and plays; he was a loyal Scottie! He laughed and he cried, both with ease.
Having been first diagnosed with diabetes as a high school sophomore, the disease plagued him the rest of his life. He began dialysis treatment in Poplar, MT in June of 2011, a three-times-weekly trek of 150 miles roundtrip. Only the very first time did someone travel with him. He eventually succumbed to the disease. Disease and suffering were not a stranger to Bob, having nursed both of his parents prior to their deaths. He had actually begun heath care as an aide at Valley View Nursing Home as a teenager.
Among Bob’s jobs outside of school were Quick-N-Tasty, College RA, house sitting, Glacier National Park, cafes in Shelby and Winifred, Valley Cinemas, and more.
Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his grandparents; brother, Tim, who then resided with him and a host of extended family and friends.
Bob is survived by his brother, Joe of Glasgow; paternal aunt, Harriet (Roy) Keough of Havre; maternal aunt, Marie Hobby of Marietta, Georgia; numerous cousins and their families and a number of very close friendships (Bill, Teresa, Jared, Brandt, Eva, Bruce, Mrs. R., et.al.) Rusty and Maddie, his beloved canine companions, miss him. We all do.
Services for Bob will be held Saturday, May 14th, 2016 at 1:00 PM Evangelical Church in Glasgow, Montana. Refreshments will be served following the service. Inurnment will take place at Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale, Montana.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
1:00 PM
Saturday May 14, 2016
Evangelical Church
152 Aberdeen Street
Glasgow, MT 59230
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
1:00 PM
Saturday May 14, 2016
Evangelical Church
152 Aberdeen Street
Glasgow, MT 59230
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Darlene J. Sellers says
It is with deep sadness that I share with you my sense of gratefulness to have been a small part of Bob’s life. Bob was my counseling graduate student at MSU Northern. He had a strong commitment to make a difference in the lives of the kids he worked with–as a teacher and as a school counselor. I remember his call to me one day a couple of years after he graduated–he said, Darlene, I know what I’m doing now is because I know what I’m doing! I just noticed that I didn’t have your voice in my head telling me what I needed to do or say anymore. Bob was a unique, thoughtful, intelligent, gentle, caring man. I and many others will miss having him in our world.
Allen Sevareid says
I never got along with Bob when I was young. As I grew older and got into teaching, he was already a teacher. He then became a very close friend at that time. What some people may not know, Bob is my cousin. Our moms were sisters. I probably would not have known Bob if it weren’t for being related to him. I am so glad I was related to him, because we became close as we got older. Now, he not only is my cousin, but a very good friend. I will miss you Bob, and God if there ever was a person who deserves to be an angel, it would be Bob.