Juanita Renne Garcia

Juanita Renne Garcia, lovingly known as Renne, a lifelong resident of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully. She was born on February 25, 1958, in Des Moines, the daughter of John Garcia, Jr. and Patricia Sherwood.

Renne was first raised with love and care by her paternal grandparents, John and Francis Garcia, Sr., who provided her earliest foundation and support. She later continued to be surrounded by family who cared deeply for her, including the aunt and uncle who were instrumental in her upbringing, Fatima and Ricardo Medina.

Born with cerebral palsy, Renne was not expected to ever walk. But Renne spent her entire life proving people wrong. With courage, determination, and a spirit stronger than any diagnosis, she not only learned to walk—she went on to live independently for 68 years. Her resilience became one of the defining hallmarks of her life.

A lifelong member of the Des Moines community, Renne attended Lincoln High School and was proud of her Hispanic heritage. She will be remembered for her steady, gentle presence and a life defined not by her challenges, but by the way she continually rose above them.

Family meant everything to Renne. Every child in her extended family came to know her love, warmth, and gentle spirit. She took great joy in watching younger generations grow, always greeting them with affection and making them feel special. To many of her nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members, Renne was a constant source of love and encouragement, and the memories they shared with her will be treasured forever.

Renne faced her final illness—pancreatic cancer—with the same bravery she showed throughout her life. Ultimately, it was this illness that led to her passing.

She is survived by her siblings, Lisa, Garcia, Michael Garcia, and John (Mesha) Garcia; and by cousins, Cecilia (Ron) Peterson, Richard “Dooley” Medina, Juanita (Louis) Glick, Jimmy “Jet” Garcia, and Justin (Jennifer) Nostrala; and numerous other loving family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; numerous aunts and uncles, Fatima and Ricardo Medina; and James and Juanita Garcia.

A public visitation and same-day service will be held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, on Monday, June 29, 2026, starting at 11:00 a.m. and service at 12:00 p.m., with burial to follow at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa. For those unable to attend the service in person, it will be livestreamed, and a link to view the service will be provided below.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in loving memory of Renne.

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