Joan Howard Renken, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother who was known as a generous charity patron, died unexpectedly June 30, 2018. She was 81. Joan was blessed with nearly 54 years of marriage to Keith Renken.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 7, 1936, Joan was raised in Southern California. She was a free-spirited child who loved laughing, dancing, and spontaneous adventure. Many beyond her own family saw Joan as a mother. As a child, she gathered and nurtured baby chicks and stray kittens. When raising her kids, she welcomed their friends into her heart and home; and after they were grown, Joan became a proud grandma and opened her heart to nurture foster children at Hillsides by cooking weekly dinners for girls at a satellite home and cuddling and feeding babies. The children she sponsored through Friends of Foster Children call Joan 'a godsend.' She shared encouragement and advice and sent them school supplies, birthday gifts, and college care packages to support their transition into adulthood and getting their first apartment.

Over the years, Joan generously gave Christmas gifts to fulfill children's wish lists as part of the Sugar Plum Project. She partnered with her husband to become an award-winning charitable team donating to Methodist Hospital, the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, Children's Bureau of Los Angeles, and California Science Center, among others. Together they established the Renken Family Scholarship for students at the USC Leonard School of Gerontology and USC School of Accounting and have supported artists through the Autry Museum and the California Art Club.

A threefold descendant of the Pilgrim Mayflower and resident of Arcadia for over 50 years, Joan is survived by children Lori (Tom) Marino, Vicki Austin, Bob (Mila), John (Kelly), and Christy Cook; and 16 grandchildren including Anika Renken '13, William Renken '15, and Jack Renken '18.

Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2018