Renske Hoogeboom Kleistra (Renny), passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Oak Park, IL. She was 82 years old. Renny is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Johannes Hoogeboom; her daughters, Francisca (Jeff) and Monique (Alonzo); her grandchildren, Owen, Landon, Griffin, Payton, Braedyn, & Saioa; and siblings, Annie, Titia, Ellie, Tiny, Jannie, & Jan. She was deeply loved and cherished. 

Renny was born in Joure, Netherlands in 1942. She was the 4th of eight children (6 girls and 2 boys). Her father owned a furniture business, which was on the lower level of their home on the town’s main street. The family lived on the two floors above. Tragically, her eldest brother, Meine, died in a car accident at the age of 18. This event greatly impacted Renny’s life, as she ended up working in her father’s business in Meine’s place. During that time, the business catered to farmers in the area by fully furnishing their entire homes. Renny became her father’s right-hand woman, although as she often told us, he never paid her. Nevertheless, Renny learned to be an excellent sales person, became very handy, and learned many practical skills that she used throughout her life. 

Renny met Johannes when she was sixteen and they started dating. Despite a few breakups, by the age of 19 they were fully committed to each other. Johannes dreamed of seeing the world, and infected Renny with his travel bug. In their twenties (in the early 1960s), they took off in a Volkswagen Bug for 3 weeks and explored many places, like Austria, Germany, Hungary, and what was then Yugoslavia. They experienced their first flight together in 1964, which took them through a rough thunderstorm. Johannes suffered airsickness but Renny had no issues at all. She would remind him of this for many years after that. This would be the first of many more adventures. At age 24, Johannes had an opportunity to go to Australia for a year to work as an electrician, which was his chance to make enough money so that they could marry. When he returned they were wed in Joure. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this year. Their life together was a beautiful journey.

They left the small Frisian village of Langweer early in their marriage after Johannes got a job in Woerden in the center of Holland. Their daughters Francisca and Monique were born there. About 5 years later, another job opportunity took them to the United Kingdom. Here they would spend 10 happy years raising their children in the small town of Elloughton, Yorkshire. There would be more moves in their future, the biggest happening in 1983, when they relocated to Lake of the Woods, VA in the United States, then to Asheville, NC, Cincinnati, OH, and finally, Oak Park, IL.

Although moving to a new country (twice) was challenging and scary for Renny, she always managed to thrive. She adapted to new cultures and ways of life, worked many different jobs (most recently for 10 years at Chicos), took up tennis, and was always there for her family. She loved working with Children with Disabilities. She was a passionate, brave, determined, woman, as well as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was incredibly proud of her family.

She will be deeply missed by all who loved her. May she rest in peace.

A visitation will be held from 10am until time of Memorial Service 11am on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Adolf Funeral Home 2921 S Harlem Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402. 

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Opportunity Knocks