Robert Joseph Rennell

Rennell, Robert J., "Bob", age 91, died peacefully on May 5th, 2023 with his children at his side after many months of an extended illness. Bob was born on September 26, 1931 to Ambrose M. & Mae (Sullivan) Rennell in Detroit, MI. He attended St. Mary's of Redford High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. His freshman college year, he played football and baseball on scholarship at The University of Michigan. The following year, Bob accepted his Appointment to The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1954. He was then sent on active duty for six years on various submarines in the Pacific. It was in Honolulu where Robert was stationed when he met his beautiful wife, Gloria. They later married back in Detroit in 1960 and had three children together.
From 1961-1964, Rennell attended the University of Detroit law school, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. During those years, he was also a commanding officer of the Naval Reserves Submarine Division in Detroit, recruiting hundreds of young men to serve on submarines during the Cold War. After law school, he worked two years at the Bodman Law firm in Detroit before he joined the prestigious Burke Law firm (est. 1899); which eventually became Burke & Rennell in Ann Arbor. Early clients of the firm included Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Bank, The Ann Arbor News and Domino's Pizza.
Robert was a member of the Michigan Bar Association for over 55 years. The firm went through several partner changes over the years; but with Gloria as his Office Manager, together they built the firm. Gloria was a member of The Lawyers' Wives of Washtenaw County (and MI) and The Ann Arbor City Club and jointly they sat on several boards and committees for the Republican Party, the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association, the PTA, and many other school and community groups throughout their 40 year marriage.
Bob loved all sports; especially hockey, football, baseball and golf. In the early seventies, he played on a men's softball team and he and Gloria were in a bridge group and had season tickets to U of M football and hockey games. They used to tailgate every Saturday before the football games with Bob's U of M softball team. Bob was always an avid golfer. He was a lifetime member at Barton Hills Country Club.
Mr. Rennell also enjoyed watching many Olympic sports and especially liked the figure skating events. He was a passionate hockey coach and coached both of his boys' teams until they rose to a very competitive, elite level. He also passed this love on to his daughter, Sharon, who went on to play field hockey at Michigan State and raised two boys through the Tier One Elite Hockey League (T1EHL) in Cleveland. His son, Rob, went on to become a PGA teaching pro and train his daughter on the golf course. So sports run deep in this family.
Bob grew up a strict Catholic. One of seven children, he and his brothers; Jim and John were altar boys and he admired older sisters; Rita and Theresa who joined the convent to serve right out of high school. But perhaps Bob's greatest claim to fame - was helping other people outside of his own family. He was always taking in that "stray" or helping out the underdog. That is just who he was. If someone had a sad story or didn't have any money; he had empathy for them (almost to a fault - as some would take advantage of his kindness).
Perhaps some of Bob's happiest moments late in life were getting to see his oldest granddaughter (Riley Rennell) earn her LPGA Tour Card and play on the LPGA Tour and make her first "cut"! He also witnessed his oldest grandson (Connor Francz) play D1 football and his youngest grandson (Garrett Francz) achieve a 4.0 freshman year at Michigan State University. His youngest granddaughter (Ashley Rennell) wants to go into nursing and spent time at his bedside with him right before his passing. These are his lasting memories he takes with him
Bob is survived by his second wife, Janet (who he married in his seventies); his son, Rob (Kendra); granddaughter, Riley Rennell, daughter, Sharon Rennell-Francz (Paul); grandsons Connor and Garrett Francz, son, Brian (Isolda); granddaughter, Ashley Rennell; brother, John Rennell; brother-in-law, Tom McDonald; cousins, Ed Rennell (Joanne) and Richard Rennell (Susan), and Betty Kaiser.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gloria, who he will reunite with in Heaven and also by his parents, Ambrose and Mae; his brother, Jim and his wife, Ginger; his sisters, Betty, Theresa, Rita and Dorothy; dear sister-in-law, Carol Rennell; Mary McCormick, Sam and Joyce Hakemian, Frank and Helen Rennell, Leo Rennell, Marguerite Bufka, Frankie Rennell, Billy Rennell, Lynne Drew, Katie Pruess and multitudes of Rennell's, cousins, and friends.
A small, memorial gathering is planned for Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 2:00-4:00PM
Nie Funeral Chapel, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108.
We will try to have another "Celebration of Life" later in the summer.
Robert felt a close connection with the work his sisters did with the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, MI and we would please like charitable contributions in his memory directed there in lieu of flowers:
Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, MI.
Robert knew Jesus loved him and asked for forgiveness for all his sins. He loves you all and hopes to see you all in Heaven.
Please sign the Tribute Wall and share a memory of Robert.