Emily Renberg

God called an angel home. Emily Elizabeth Rose Renberg of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away on November 27th 2012. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 19th, 1947 to George Hoyt Rose and Caroline Parks Rose. From a young age Emily began giving back to others by taking in stray animals and nursing them back to health. She always maintained a compassionate heart for animals of all kinds. Emily began her outreach efforts following graduation from Edison High School in 1965 by enrolling in the University of Tulsa Teacher Education program. She earned a B.A. in Education and worked in the public schools for two years bolstering her skills as a teacher. At this time, Emily developed a passion for teaching and mentoring children from underserved populations.

Following her college graduation, Emily met her husband Donald Byron Renberg and the couple married in 1972. Don and Emily loved each other deeply and shared their love with family, friends, and community. In 1974, Emily and Don welcomed their only child into the world, Heather Beth Renberg. Emily was fully devoted to Heather. The family served the Tulsa area through retail by operating the family clothing store, Renberg's, for many years. On November 13th, 2010, Emily became a grandmother for the first time. She graciously served as "Nana" to Hudson Davis Hale. Nana had an unconditional love for Hudson and nurtured him every day. She instilled her loving kindness in his soul by teaching him how to pray, take communion, and say please and thank you.

In 1995, Emily found her passion in dedicating time and service in establishing a ministry as a member of First United Methodist Church at Eugene Fields Elementary. During her tenure managing this outreach program, Emily created a workforce of volunteers and mentors for children in underprivileged homes. Emily connected mentors from the community with children struggling with basic math and spelling skills, created summer reading programs, and operated Project Transformation. In addition, Emily created the Eugene Fields Big Bucks program for children to earn basic living items by improving their academic performance. Emily's impact at Eugene Fields uplifted an under performing school into a Mecca for loving volunteerism which is managed today by First United Methodist Church in downtown Tulsa.

Perhaps the most notable memory of Emily is her nurturing touch to any and every person or animal created by God. Emily always focused on putting others first. Emily is the true testimony of how kindness can be contagious always going out of her way to help others. Thousands of people in the Tulsa community have been lovingly touched by her.

Emily is survived by her husband, Donald Renberg, daughter, Heather Hale, grandson Hudson Hale, son-in-law Davis Hale, mother Caroline Rose, sisters Georgia Hamilton and Caroline Greenberg, brother-in-law Robert Renberg, sister-in-law Sherry Kaplan and many loving nieces and nephews. May her loving touch live on now and forever.