Verda E. (Magnuson) Renner

Verda E. Magnuson Renner, 95, died Saturday September 23, 2023 at Morningside of Sterling.

Verda was born on July 12, 1928 in St. Louis, the daughter of Philip Oscar and Hulda A.  (Johnson) Magnuson. She attended school at Maple Grove one room school in Hahnaman  Township, and graduated from Walnut High School in 1945. After high school, she attended  Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, then taught in one room grade schools in rural Whiteside and  Bureau Counties. Keith E. Renner and she were married on December 19, 1948 in Walnut. She  and Keith lived on the family farm where she helped farm until 1963 when they purchased and  then operated the Sterling Beauty School, a business which they owned and operated until her  daughter assumed ownership. Verda was also the principal manager of several beauty salons  during that period. Following retirement from the beauty education industry, she and Keith traveled extensively, and would spend winters in Florida. Verda enjoyed golf, was an avid  reader, loved studying her family genealogy, and adored all animals. Both of her parents were  Swedish, and she was very proud of that Swedish heritage. Following Keith’s passing in 2005,  Verda continued to travel to Florida for winter months. Throughout her life, she remained loyal  to her roots in Walnut and her lifelong friends there. Although shy by nature, she loved to cook  and entertain, for she had a huge heart, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved  her.

Surviving is her daughter Rhonda Renner (Jim) Reese of Sterling, her niece April Kent and  nephews Rob Higgins and Jim Renner.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Dorothy (Peggy) Higgins.

Visitation will be held on Saturday September 30, 2023 from 10-11 AM at the Garland Funeral  Home in Walnut. The services will follow at 11 AM. Burial will conclude at Walnut Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to be made to Happy Tails Shelter of Rock Falls or to  St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.