Melita Renfert Lane Harkness

Harkness, Melita Renfert Lane Melita Renfert Lane Harkness died quietly in her home on September 25, 2014. Born to Henry Renfert and Wanda Stressau May 5, 1920 in Fort Worth, Texas, she was raised in Galveston, Texas, graduated from Emma Willard School and Vassar College. She married John Albert Schwaab Lane, Sr. in 1941(d. March 6, 1977) with whom she raised four children. She was married again in 1993 to Ralph Norman Harkness and her family expanded to include Ralph's four children, their spouses and grandchildren. Melita was a strong, independent, competitive woman. She loved skiing at Sun Valley and Alta; summers hiking and riding in Wyoming; tennis (especially late afternoon games with John at the Town Club); playing UNO or scrabble or backgammon with her grandchildren; and even competing in dominoes with her caregivers. While Melita viewed raising her family as her greatest achievement, right up there in importance for her were being Corporate Secretary-Treasurer of Schwaab, Inc., and her community involvements. Her earliest volunteer efforts as a member of the Junior League of Milwaukee were with the Milwaukee Blood Center, a commitment she maintained throughout her life as she went on to be a board member and officer for many years. She watched with pride as it grew from a fledgling blood center to a major international force and research center. She served as President of the Junior League of Milwaukee and Women's Club of Wisconsin and as an officer/board member of many other organizations including Curative Rehabilitation Center, Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Milwaukee Children's Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation, Heritage Wisconsin Corporation and Heritage Trust Co. and Alverno College. She was a founding "mother" of the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee. Melita was the recipient of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Civic Alliance Service Award, Pro Urbe Medal from Mount Mary College in 1979, the President's Award from the Junior League of Milwaukee in 1998, the Heart of Gold (1997) and the Virginia Brooks Jefferson Award(2007) from the Blood Center of Wisconsin. Melita outlived both spouses, sons Peter who died of SIDS and John Albert Schwaab Lane, Jr. as well as her sister Wandy Renfert Winterbothan, her twin brother Henry Renfert, and brother Frederic Renfert. She is survived by daughter, Elizabeth Wanda Lane Peirce (Roger D. Peirce); daughter-in-law, Nancy Blank Lane; son, Douglas Renfert Lane; daughter, Sarah Noble Lane Starrett (Alex Starrett); her many grandchildren Christopher Peirce, Brenda Peirce Barnett(William Erik), John A. S. Lane III (Katherine Archuleta), Melissa Lane Anton(John James), Peter Willis Lane, Diane Virginia Lane, Andrew Renfert Lane, Alexandra Lane Starrett, Lane Noble Starrett, Anne Talbot Starrett, and eight great grandchildren Michelle Melita and Anabelle Barnett; Max Blank, William Archuleta, and Katherine Archuleta Lane; Henry , Arden, and John Lane Anton. She is also survived by Ralph's children Scott, Ainslie, TJ and Dan Harkness and their families. She was close to many of her nieces and nephews, especially Anne Pratt, Maria Brewer, and Blaine Renfert. The family will gather for a private celebration of Melita's life. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory are suggested to the Milwaukee Blood Center, or the John and Melita Lane Family Fund within the Milwaukee Foundation.