MERRILL JOSEPH RENTROP SR.

January 4, 1931- April 11, 2016
Merrill Joseph Rentrop Sr., 85, a resident of Morgan City, passed away at AMG Specialty Hospital in Houma Monday, April 11, 2016, surrounded by family.
He was born on January 4, 1931, in Bayou L’Ourse, the son of Alcee H. Rentrop Sr. and Telizia M. Pennison Rentrop.
Merrill was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman that enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening (especially growing long stem roses in Buras), golfing, baseball and bowling. He loved his family and always had them around for gatherings. He also had a passion for cooking, which he did well, that led him to cook for the National Guard for several years. He loved playing Pedro, wine tasting and trying different hot sauces. He was a generous man that gave not only his time, but was an avid blood donor that donated gallons throughout his lifetime. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend that will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his two sons, Merrill J. Rentrop Jr. and wife, Lori, of Clark Summit, Pennsylvania, and Wayne A. Rentrop and wife, Mary, of Bayou L’Ourse; three daughters, Janet M. Strange and husband, Alfred, of Evart, Michigan, Veronica L. Kingsbury of Evart, Michigan, and Cynthia G. Kennedy and husband, Thomas, of Mesa, Arizona; two stepsons, JF Gasquet and wife, Penny, of Jesuit Bend, and Bruce Gasquet and wife, Bonnie, of Empire; two brothers, Laurie Rentrop of Vienna, Virginia, and Burns Rentrop and wife, Eloise “Tiny,” of Sulphur; two sisters, Elise Landry of Bayou L’Ourse, and Manola Miller of Bayou L’Ourse; 10 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family.
Merrill is preceded in death by his wife, Bernice G. Rentrop; parents, Alcee H. Rentrop Sr. and Telizia Marie Rentrop; son, Michael Rentrop; brother, Alcee “Plute” H. Rentrop Jr.; and great-granddaughters, Aubrie Ann and Madalyn Rose Bellanger.
Pallbearers will be Anthony Rentrop, Burns Rentrop Jr., Burns Rentrop III, Dean Clements, Dylan Hebert and Jason Zimmerman.
A visitation will be held today, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at Twin City Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Visitation will resume Thursday, April 14, 2016, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Amelia from 8 a.m. until Mass. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Merrill will be laid to rest in St. Andrew Catholic Church Cemetery following Mass.