Warriors Remember: Hans Dieter Renning

For more than half a century, Hans Dieter Renning was part of the fabric of Stanislaus State and the Central Valley - a Warrior whose life reminds us that the greatest legacies are built not only through what we accomplish, but through how we show up for others.

His journey as a Warrior began in 1970, when he joined the economics faculty at what was then California State College, Stanislaus. Over the next 26 years, he educated generations of students while building friendships and connections that would last a lifetime. Retirement in 1996 did little to slow his commitment to the University and the community he and his wife, Hanna, called home.

Whether lending his voice to the Stan State Concert Chorale, championing the arts and the Turlock Library or remaining connected to his fellow faculty and staff, Renning continued to give back with warmth, intellect, good humor and a quiet determination to leave his community better than he found it. He died at 93, leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the classroom and lives on in the people and places he enriched.

Born in Dresden, Germany, in 1933, Renning grew up during the rise of the Nazi regime and survived World War II, including the bombing of Dresden and internal displacement. By the end of the war, his family had settled in Hamburg, where he completed his schooling and undergraduate degree before moving to Freiburg to pursue a doctoral degree. During his time in Freiburg, he met his future wife, Hanna, who had come from the United States to study as a Fulbright fellow. After earning his doctorate, Renning moved to the United States to begin his college teaching career. He and Hanna soon reunited and married in 1961; they were married for 65 years, until his death.

While teaching at several colleges and universities in the Midwest, Renning became a father as he and Hanna welcomed sons John and then Mike. In 1970, the family began a new chapter together, putting down roots in Turlock and making the Central Valley their home. Renning would teach in the Economics Department at Stan State until retiring in 1996. Alongside his wife, Renning remained active in retirement, serving as a dedicated member of the Stan State Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association, singing in the Stan State Concert Chorale and Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, promoting the public library as a member of the Friends of the Turlock Library and supporting local arts organizations, including the Carnegie Arts Center and the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, for which he served as a board member.

That spirit of giving back also extended directly to generations of Stan State students. Beginning in 1987, Dieter and Hanna made steady contributions to the Renning Economics Scholarship and Renning Music Scholarship, which supports economics and music students, ultimately helping dozens of Warriors pursue their education.

Renning also shared his time and talents freely. For roughly 25 years, he returned to Stan State choir rehearsals to coach students singing in German, offering his expertise in the same generous, unassuming way that characterized his life. Many of the students the Rennings supported went on to become educators and professionals in the region, extending their impact throughout the Central Valley.

In addition to the many friends and colleagues whose lives he touched, Renning is survived by his wife, Hanna; son Mike and daughter-in-law Annette; and grandson Nate. He was predeceased by his son, John. A memorial service is being planned; for information about the service, please contact [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to an organization supporting the arts, those in need or environmental protection.

Remembrances of Dieter Renning

"When I first came to Stan State, I was given an office in the Economics Department and was made to feel so welcomed by Dr. Renning, even though I was an accountant and didn't do economics 'right.' Over the years, he dedicated so much time to helping retirees learn about ERFSA, the Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association, by visiting the CalPERS presentation each year. Of course, he and Hanna devoted so much more to the University and community than what little I observed."

-Annhenrie Campbell, Professor Emerita

"I met Dieter as a colleague at Stanislaus in 1988. Over my 30-year career, Dieter, Hanna and I sang together, first under choir conductor Joe Miller and then under Daniel Afonso at the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, where we performed at the Gallo Center. Over the decades, we loved singing together, and as the Rennings aged, I offered to drive them to rehearsal every week. This solidified our friendship even deeper over the years. I am thankful for these memories."

-April Hejka Ekins, Professor Emerita

"I have many fond memories of Dieter including when he interviewed me for the position at Stan State, him coming to one of my courses to share his knowledge about the life and ideas of Karl Marx, and working with him on a project to study the value of the Turlock Public Library. The best memory my family and I have is visiting Dieter and Hannah during the holidays. The Rennings invited us to their home, knowing we were far from our families who lived in Minnesota and New York. They always shared interesting snacks and wonderful stories. The evening would culminate in the lighting of the candles on the Christmas tree. Every year Dieter assured us that we were safe as he lit the candles. After all the candles were lit, he would turn off all the lights in the house, and we would sit in silence as we watched the shadows of the branches on the ceiling and walls change as each candle slowly burned out. We will remember these visits for the rest of our lives."

-Kelvin Jasek-Rysdahl, Professor of Economics