Colleen Mae Rentmaster, age 97, of Pembine, Wis., died June 5, 2018 at the Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Colleen was born on January 13, 1921, in Pembine, Wis., daughter of George and Mary (Mamie) Duca Willis. She graduated from Pembine High School with the Class of 1938. Colleen met Merlin Rentmaster while they both worked at Robinson's Store, which was owned by Merlin's grandfather. On July 26, 1940 Colleen and Merlin married. Shortly thereafter the two of them became owners of the store and operated it as Merle's Market from 1942 until they retired in 1976. Colleen was a capable and multi-talented lady who enjoyed and excelled at playing golf, painting landscapes, knitting, crocheting and all other forms of needlework. She was skilled at finding wild blueberries to make her delicious blueberry pies. She enjoyed the annual trips she and Merlin took to their winter home in Fort Myers, Florida until Merlin's Parkinson's Disease made travel impossible, but she always came back to Pembine, the home she loved. Colleen was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her nephews; Benjamin (Rose) Sword of Rhinelander, Wis., Patrick (Jean) Willis of Manitowoc, Wis., Michael (Charlene) Willis of Green Bay, Wis.; a niece, Colleen (Jude) Gosz of Buckeye, Arizona; and a nephew-in-law, David Austad of Redmond, Oregon; along with many grand-nephews, grand-nieces and cousins. Colleen is also survived by her sister-in-law, Isabelle (Liz) Willis of Manitowoc, Wis.

In addition to her parents, Colleen was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin Rentmaster; her sisters and their husbands, Jane (Francis) Van Ginkel and Helen (Ben) Sword; her brother, Hubert Willis; and her niece, Bonnie Austad.

Visitation will be Monday, June 11, 2018, from 10-11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Pembine. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Pastor Gene Wickman will be officiating.

Colleen's family would like to thank Mark McCorkle and the many other neighbors, church members and friends from Pembine who helped Colleen to live independently for as long as she did. The family also wishes to thank the caring staff at Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center for the tender care they gave Colleen over the past seven years.

You may light a candle in remembrance of Colleen or leave a condolence for her family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel, to honor Colleen's legacy of life.