Martin R. “Marty” Rennicke

Belgium resident Martin R. “Marty” Rennicke, formerly of Saukville and Cedarburg, died Friday, March 16, at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.            

Mr. Rennicke, who died of congestive heart and kidney failure, his wife Diane said, was 69.

He was born in Milwaukee on April 25, 1948, the son of Delmore and Edna Hintz Rennicke, grew up in Cedarburg and graduated from Cedarburg High School in 1966.

Mr. Rennicke severed in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

During his time in the Army, he met Diane Burgess in Savannah, Ga., where they were married on July 25, 1970.

The couple lived in Saukville before moving to Belgium in 1972.  

Mr. Rennicke developed a love of cars as a teenager and worked as a mechanic at 5-Corners GMC in Cedarburg for more than 40 years. He retired in 2007.   

When he wasn’t fixing other people’s cars, he was tinkering with his own, and not just any cars. Mr. Rennicke was a fan of  American automobiles and owned several quintessential muscle cars, from Chevy Chevelles to Pontiac Trans Am Firebirds, his wife said.

“His interest in cars began when he as a teenager,” she said. “Then my grandma had a ’55 Chevelle she left to him and it kind of grew from there.”

Mr. Rennicke also liked remote-controlled cars, but more than most things he enjoyed the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife Diane  of Belgium and their two children, Janice Stadler of Saukville and Michael (Peggy) of Fredonia.  

He is further survived by his grandchildren Carson and Connor Rennicke, sister Carol Rennicke Cochran of Waupaca and special family friend Marta Arroqi.

Cremation has taken place and an informal celebration of life will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the family’s home in Fredonia.  

The family suggests memorials to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Eernisse Funeral Home in Belgium is handling the arrangements.