Stephen Carl Renk

Stephen Carl Renk of Longmont, CO and formerly of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away on April 1, 2025, the victim of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born on June 22, 1951 in Monticello, Iowa, Steve was the only son of Carl and Gladys Renk.  He attended Catholic school for ten years and graduated from Monticello High in 1969. 

Stephen had an adventurous spirit.  As an undergraduate at the University of Iowa where he majored in Mathematics, he hitchhiked extensively throughout the U.S. and Mexico. He once hitchhiked to San Francisco just to buy a hat! He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1973.  Steve loved to play chess and became a master chess player while an undergraduate. He continued to play chess until he was in his sixties. 

He earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science and then a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa in 1985.  After earning his master’s, he worked as the assistant director of the Center for Experimental Education and Evaluation at the University of Iowa’s College of Education. In this position, he was at the forefront of Computer-Assisted Instruction, creating and delivering instruction that was deployed nation-wide in many of the largest K-12 schools in the country, including Detroit, Denver, and Los Angeles. To support the system, he created the first Apple-based networked instructional management system in the country. His software supported graphics, animation, and audio at a time when multimedia was in its infancy. 

After earning his doctorate, Dr. Renk taught Computer Science at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, then at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, and finally taught for thirty years at North Central College in Naperville, IL, where he served as department chair, faculty speaker, and graduate director.  He also consulted for Fermi and Argonne Labs on the tech corridor in Illinois, as well as for corporations in Chicagoland, including Microsoft, Albertsons, and Jewell/Osco. For over a decade, he served on the Admissions Committee for the Illinois Math and Science Academy. 

During his many decades at North Central College, Dr. Renk taught thirty-five courses, while creating many new courses and majors, including a major in Multi-Media Studies, which combined computer science, journalism, and art.  His students, whether in CS or Multi-media Studies, admired his brilliance and the way he challenged them to excel. Students often commented that he made Computer Science fun and that he had a terrific sense of humor.

While at NCC, Steve escorted students on study abroad programs to the U.K., China, Japan, Italy, Greece, and Mexico.  While in London, he served as the director of a study abroad program at Imperial College during the fall of 2005.  In those programs, he always enjoyed introducing students to historical and cultural experiences.  And he often helped those who had physical limitations, for example encouraging students to continue to climb the Great Wall in China or cycle in Ireland.

Steve was devoted to his family.  In particular, he greatly loved his grandparents John and Phoebe Rickels, his Aunt Agnes, his uncles: John Henry, Howard, Donnie, Herman, and Carl Rickels, who served as surrogate fathers for him after Steve’s father’s death when Steve was eleven years old. He spent many happy summers at his grandparents’ farm in Northeast Iowa.  He was also devoted to his friends, in particular his best childhood friend who suffered from mental illness.  Steve served as his friend’s guardian for a few years when his friend experienced difficulties.

As a father, Steve was the chief storyteller for his children, and he took his kids on many adventures to Colorado, AZ, Connecticut, Florida, and California.  As an avid cyclist, he and his oldest son Jason spent every summer riding in and around Iowa City.  He also volunteered for over a decade as an official for the US Cycling Federation.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Kathleen, his son Jason Renk (Jennifer) of Longmont, CO; Sarah Carson (Aaron) of Port Townsend, WA, and Chris Renk of Bloomington, IN, as well as eight grandchildren: Isabella, Landon, Carrigan, and Piper Renk; Hank and Maeve Carson, and Vaughan and Damien Renk.  He is also survived by his sisters, Carol Dyke of Cedar Rapids, IA and Debra Renk of Roselle, IL.

In remembrance of Steve, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.