| Graduation Year | Class of 1957 |
| Date of Birth | Jun 02, 1939 |
| Date of Passing | Sep 17, 1989 |
| About | Robert J. Drenth. 52, and Maxine B. Drenth, 50, of Charlevoix, died Sept. 17, 1989, in Charlevoix Funeral will be 3:30 pm. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Charlevoix High School gymnasium. The Rev. Larry Grooters of the Community Reformed Church of Charlevoix will officiate and burial will be in the Barnard cemetery Charlevoix County. Robert Drenth was born Jan. 14, 1937, in Charlevoix, the son of Gerrit J. And Cora (VanderHeide) Drenth. He moved to Ellsworth from East Jordan as a small child and attended and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1956, J Maxine Drenth was born June 2, 1939, in Charlevoix the daughter of Floyd and Mary (Gates) Black. She attended and graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1957. On July 5, 1958, Robert and Maxine were married in Ellsworth. The couple had resided in Charlevoix for many years. Robert Drenth was a master plumber and was self- employed as a plumbing-heating contractor in Charlevoix for the past 15 years. He was active in sports and had served as a referee for high school basketball and football Games for more than 30 years. He also served as a high school track official and a baseball and Softball umpire. Currently, Mr. Drenth was serving as vice president of the Charlevoix School Board. As a sports official, he was often called upon to referee at state finals for basketball, football and track. Robert and Maxine Drenth were members of the Community Reformed Church of Charlevoix and both taught Sunday school there. Maxine Drenth also taught the Bethel Bible series for adults and was a former Weight Watchers lecturer. She was a co-founder of the local Compassionate Friends group, an organization for bereaved parents whose children have died. Through her efforts another chapter is being established in St. Ignace. Maxine Drenth was very active in volunteer work in the community. The Drenth home was always open to runners and other athletes as a retreat. They were currently working to complete a memorial retreat in memory of their deceased son, Jeffery. Mr. and Mrs. Drenth are survived by three sons, Walter J. Drenth and his wife, Cara, and Mark E. Drenth, all of Mt., Pleasant and Douglas A. Drenth of Franklin, Ind. They were preceded in death by a son, Jeffery Drenth on June 2, 1986. Mr. Drenth is also survived by his mother, Cora Drenth of Ellsworth; two brothers, Donald J. Drenth of Grand Rapids and Kenneth J. Drenth of Cedarville; one sister, Mrs. Norma J. Store of Allentown, Pa.; his mother-in-law, Mary Black of Charlevoix. In addition to her three sons, Mrs. Drenth is survived by her mother, Mrs. Mary Black of Charlevoix; three sisters, Mrs. Ed (Shirley) Wilbur of Kalamazoo, Mrs. Art (Jean) Drenth of Ellsworth and Mrs. Richard (Mary Lou) Johnson of Elmhurst Ill. Her mother-in-law Mrs. Cora Drenth of Ellsworth. The Drenth family suggests memorials to the Bob and Maxine Drenth Memorial Fund. Envelopes for that purpose are available at the Winchester Funeral Home, Charlevoix, where arrangements are being handled. |
