J. Steven Renkert

John Steven Renkert, age 87, passed away unexpectedly on January 2, 2025. Steve was born in Canton, Ohio on March 30, 1937, to the late Donald J. and Amelia S. Renkert. His beloved wife Rachel Fisher Renkert, whom he married on June 25, 1960, preceded him in death. He is survived by their three children: Amelia Renkert-Thomas of Durham, NC; Christopher (Melissa) Renkert of Canton, CT; and Guy (Amy) Renkert of Canton, OH; and seven grandchildren: Meredith Thomas (Zachariah) Straight of Raleigh, NC, Beatrice Thomas of Cincinnati, OH; Jacob, Sara and Nina Renkert of Canton, CT; and Kolbe (Mitchell) Bruce of Cincinnati, OH, and Seth Renkert of Columbus, OH. Steve is also survived by his brothers David (Ann) Renkert and Michael Renkert and preceded in death by his brother Donald (Hal) Renkert.
Convivial, bright, driven, a detail-minded planner with a strong vision, Steve was the first to say he could also be curmudgeonly and obstinate. He loved nothing more than a heated discussion on a controversial topic. Those who knew and loved him recognized that beneath his sometimes-prickly demeanor lay a profound commitment to family, business, friends, community, and, later, his deep faith. His marriage to Rachel was at the very core of his being. Following his retirement, he devoted a decade to caring for her through her journey with dementia. Following Rachel's death, he chose to live in a way that would enable him to age on his terms, in his own house, and get away as often as possible to go fly fishing in Pennsylvania.
Steve attended Lehman High School and went on to graduate from Phillips Academy Andover in 1955. After receiving a B.A. from Yale University in 1959, he began his career at Corning Glass Works. Earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1964, he then returned to Canton to join his father and brother Hal at the Metropolitan Brick Company (now lronrock Capital, Inc). Steve served as President and CEO of the Company from 1966-1992, and as Chairman and CEO from 1993- 1997. Steve and Hal were the fourth generation of Renkerts to continue the family's involvement in the brick and tile business, dating back to 1866, and they were instrumental in transforming the Company from an aging, struggling producer of face brick to an innovative and highly efficient producer of split tile. Steve served as an officer of Tile Council of America and received from TCA the Tile Person of the Year Award in 2002.
Steve served as Treasurer of the Brent Kirk-Yale '76 Memorial Foundation and was past director of Gregory Galvanizing and Metal Processing, Inc. and the North Canton Medical Foundation. He served on the National Board of Directors of Trout Unlimited and co-founded the Coldwater Conservation Fund. For many years, he interviewed for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee, was a member of The Woodchoppers, and a long-time Canton McKinley Bulldog supporter. His love of Yale football and, later, hockey and lacrosse, was unmatched.
Steve focused much of his civic work around Canton and its inner-city, focusing on building a stronger community: the United Way, the Central Canton Development Association, and the Stark County Community Support Consortium. He was a co-founder of the Stark County Out of Poverty Partnership (SCOPP) and was honored by SCOPP in 2005 for his service.
A chance encounter with a box of old maps led Steve to the final adventure of his well-lived life. Researching Cantonian William Raynolds' 1859-1860 expedition to explore the Yellowstone and Missouri River Territory reignited his fascination with the complex and sometimes conflicting histories of the exploration and settlement of the American West. Working together with other local historians gave Steve a heightened sense of purpose and a community, which, honoring the joy and excitement the project gave him, he often referred to as his "play group".
Calling hours will be Friday, January 10, 2025 from 3-5 p.m. at Arnold Funeral Home, 1517 Market Ave. N., Canton, Ohio. It was Mr. Renkert's wish to be cremated. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Aultman Hospital, the Early Childhood Resource Center, and the Margaret B. Shipley Child Health Clinic.
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