Renate Charlotte (Smolenski) Mckitrick Obituary (1923 - 2021)

Renate Charlotte Smolenski McKitrick passed away Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in her Washington Terrace home near Ogden, Utah. She succumbed to congestive heart failure after a valiant battle that lasted more than a year. Born in Neidenburg, Germany on Jan. 17, 1923, Renate traveled by boat to Ellis Island with her Mother, older sister, and younger brother when she was two years old. Her father, Horst Theodore Smolenski, had come the year before to establish a home base in Shelbyville, Indiana. Her mother, Lotte Hauss Smolenski, evidently was seasick the entire trip across the Atlantic Ocean, and many other travelers helped attend to the 3 children under the age of 4. Horst and Lotte went on to have two more children, for a total of five: Urte Kahle (Dan), Renate, Wilfried Smolenski (Ruth), Harold Smolenski (Jeannie) and Susan Smolenski. During Renate's childhood and teen years, the family lived on the Goodman family estate in Indianapolis where Horst, a horticulturist and chemist, maintained the grounds. Renate graduated from Shortridge High School in 1941, where she savored the friendships and memories of that particular time. She took classes in fashion and interior design at Butler University before marrying William (Bill) Hiram McKitrick on Dec. 21, 1943. Bill had joined the Army Air Corps as part of the war effort. Bill and Renate were married in the Butler University Chapel and held their reception at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house, of which she was a member. Bill passed away in November 2016, a few weeks shy of their 73rd anniversary. They had three children: Julianna McKitrick Heintz (Jim) of Cascade, Colorado; William Lance McKitrick of Tampa, Florida, who passed away in October 2018; and Curtis Alan McKitrick (Cathy) of Ogden, Utah. While raising children, the family enjoyed vacations to Mexico, Yellowstone N.P., Grand Teton N. P., the World's Fair in New York City, Washington D.C., numerous camping trips to the sand dunes in Indiana and Michigan, and annual picnics, boating and hiking to state parks. Renate was primarily a homemaker, active in the public schools, served as PTA president for a term, while also working in a CPA office as an executive bookkeeper for Pritchard Mooney in Indianapolis from 1967 to 1983. She was a member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, and was active in the Pike School district. She and Bill then moved to Woodland Park, Colorado in 1981 to launch their retirement years. They lived close to their daughter Juli, and Renate watched Jim and Juli's three children (Monica, Ben and Hillary Heintz) while they were young. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, along with the Ute Pass Social Club in Woodland Park. Renate and Bill moved to Ogden, Utah in 2004 to be closer to Curt and his family, shortly before the birth of their first great-grandchild (Ollie Vandyke). Renate enjoyed ballroom and square dancing, tennis, swimming, skiing, sewing, gardening, knitting, bridge, books and was passionate about cooking for those she loved. She made every holiday a special occasion, but especially birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And such occasions called for a menu that included meat, starch, a green vegetable, salad and dessert. She honed her skills to make each meal as perfect as possible, even down to the presentation. She had a loving heart toward all things living, raising multiple pets that included dogs, cats, parakeets, fish, two baby raccoons, lizards, a chicken and Juli's 8-foot boa constrictor. Renate was very dedicated in all that she did. She enjoyed getting to know people, socializing and participating in all types of activities. She loved to tell stories of all the adventures her life held for her. She was called Grammy and Nana by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Renate is survived by her older sister (Urte Kahle), two children (Juli and Curt), their spouses (Jim and Cathy), her grandchildren -- Monica, Ben & Hillary (Heintz), and Lisa (Jed) Vandyke and Amy (Jordan) Bendixen. She also enjoyed being a great grandmother of five (Ollie, Avery and Addy Vandyke & Ryley and Rowen Bendixen). For the past 14 months, Renate needed around-the-clock care after falling and getting a compression fracture. The family owes an immense debt of gratitude to the incredible crew of caregivers provided by Visiting Angels, Atlas Homecare & Hospice and Wasatch Senior care. They brought sunshine, camaraderie and dogged dedication during a very tough time of her life. A celebration of Renate's life will be held in August. (For further details, please contact catmckit@gmail.com) Her ashes, along with those of her husband and son, will be interred at the Shrine of Remembrance mausoleum in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that people donate to the American Heart Association or a pet rescue.