Renita J. Sutherland

Renita Janae (Howden) Sutherland, age 73, translated from the physical world to the spiritual world on April 10, 2025. She was born to Dwight "Ed" and Maybelle (Engrisch) Howden on April 5, 1952, in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. She graduated from Alexander (Nekoosa) High School in 1970 and Midstate Tech in 1973 with a degree in Mechanical Design. Renita married her soul mate and best friend, Robert J. Sutherland, on July 17, 1976, in Nekoosa, WI. They lived in the Town of Rome until moving to Superior, WI in 2008 for work.
Renita held a variety of jobs in her lifetime, including many years as Clerical Coordinator for the Town of Rome and then being elected to the Rome Town Board for seven terms. She then worked in the Copps Engineering Department, Consolidated Paper/Storaeno/New Page, Lake Superior Consulting/Embedded at Embridge, and finally retiring from Superior Water Light and Power in 2022. She enjoyed family and friends, animals, nature, travel, the Packers, meeting new people or seeing new things, but mostly she enjoyed doing anything with Robert, the love of her life.
Renita was preceded in death by her parents; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Yvonne and Larry Hoffman, Dolores and Bob Deram; brother-in-law, Phil Kniprath; brother, Dwight (Ike) Howden; nephews, Fred Deram, Phil Deram, Jerry Hoffman, Gary Kniprath; nieces, Donna Powell, Debbie Deram; and great niece, Mindy Rowe.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years; one sister, Marlene Kniprath; two sisters-in-law, Alice Howden, Rita (Gordy) Freeman; two brothers-in-law, Russ (Sue) Sutherland, Rick (Diane) Sutherland; and tons of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30am on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Feldner/Ritchay Funeral Home in Nekoosa, WI. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:30am until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Renita's name to Eckankar (www.Eckankar.org), Temple of Eck (www.TempleofEck.org), or Raptor Education Group, Inc. (Raptoreducationgroup.org).
With deep appreciation, Renita thanks Robert and hospice for the end-of-life care at home.