Obit: Rannow, Renée Kathryn (1957 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hanson, Miles, Rannow, Vienneau

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 11/11/2015

Rannow, Renée Kathryn (8 OCT 1957 - 1 NOV 2015)

Renée Kathryn Rannow, age 58, passed quietly at the home she shared with her sister in Madison on November 1, 2015, following a 3-year struggle with cancer.

She was born to Howard and Esther (Vienneau) Rannow at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, on October 8, 1957. She attended Colby Public Schools and graduated in 1975. Following that, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior for one year.

A Celebration of Life/Memorial Service for Renée will be held on November 14, at First United Church of Christ in Colby, WI. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00am. Pastor Teri Hanson will conduct the service at 11am.

In 1978, Renée drove to California and created a successful career in technology. She began her career with Emulex Corporation, a high-tech company, where she established an international division that included direct sales offices in seven countries. Her work helped this start-up company grow into a $150M business within 5 years. Renée later became a founding partner of Lantronix, a local manufacturer of networking products. In 1995, she joined Symantec Corporation where her clients included Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Gateway Computers. Her sales achievements were recognized through numerous awards from both her employer and customers. She also served as a consultant to companies interested in expanding their businesses to the international arena and establishing overseas distribution.

Renée's knowledge in the international exporting of high tech commodities was so widely recognized that the American Electronics Association asked her to represent them in Washington DC on the Export Control Committee established by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to increase U.S. exports of high-tech commodities and to streamline export controls. She received numerous awards from the AEA and the DOC recognizing her outstanding achievements.

Renée held officer positions in trade organizations that included the American Electronics Association and World Trade Center Association, and was a past president of the International Marketing Association of Orange County.

Renée loved to cook, entertain family and friends, spend time in wine country, and anything Italian. In 2011, she fulfilled a life-long dream of traveling to Italy, where she rented an apartment in Florence and explored her beloved Tuscany, including art museums, cooking classes and anywhere there were people.

Renée is survived by her mother, Esther Rannow, Abbotsford; siblings, Rick Rannow, Abbotsford; Robyn Rannow, Madison; Ross Rannow (Evonne), Colby; Randy Rannow (Vicki), Huntington Beach, CA; Rae Miles (Eddie), Madison; Rochelle Rannow, Verona. She is also survived by nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles.

The family wishes to express their appreciation for the care Renée was given by staff members of Agrace HospiceCare, BrightStar, Home Instead Senior Care, and the Carbone Cancer Center at UW Hospital and Clinics.

The family is being assisted with arrangements by Cress Funeral Home and Cremation in Madison and Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Colby. In lieu of flowers, Renée asked that gifts be made to Second Harvest (or your local food pantry). Please share a memory.