Renae Gambs

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY BANK IN DUNLAP FOR NICHOLAS AND CLAIRE GAMBS EDUCATION OR TO THE DUNLAP LIBRARY.

Renae Michelle (Flug) Gambs was born April 25, 1974, to Michael and Linda (Murray) Flug in Harlan, Iowa. She was a member of the Harlan Community High School class of 1992, where she was an honor roll student and active in marching band, pep band, and jazz band. She played the trumpet and was chosen as a two-time member of the Iowa High School All-State Band. She also played for the Christian group Faith Sound. It was through this group that she met Nicholas Paul Gambs. They were married June 11, 1994, at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan. They attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where Renae earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts in 1996. Following Nick's graduation from Veterinary School, the couple moved to Springfield, Missouri, and York, Nebraska, before making their home in Dunlap, Iowa. Renae most recently worked at Debbie's Photography and Oppold Lumber.

Renae loved spending time with her family and friends, taking pictures and making memories. She enjoyed playing golf, attending concerts and following her favorite bands and singers, traveling, reading, watching TV and movies, and entertaining. She was very creative and enjoyed crafts like scrapbooking and photography, and working on home improvement projects with Nick. She designed and created elaborate and unforgettable Halloween costumes. Renae worked to make every occasion special and memorable. She was very active in the Dunlap community where she served on the Dunlap Community Development Committee, and taught Sunday School at the Methodist Church. She liked to be involved in her children's activities and also donated her time to the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, as well as youth soccer. She was an active supporter of the MDA.

Renae died on July 19, 2010, in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 36 years, two months, and 24 days.

Renae was preceded in death by two grandfathers, Rolland "Jack" Murray and Daniel Flug; grandmother, Evelyn (Larsen) Flug; and one uncle, William J. Murray. She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Nicholas Gambs and their children Nicholas and Claire of Dunlap; grandmother Inge Anna (Werner) Murray of Harlan; parents, Michael and Linda Flug of Harlan; sister, Jenny (Michael) Scheffler of Harlan; parents-in-law, Ed and Eleanor Gambs of Logan, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Laurel (Don) Klitgaard of Harlan, and Barbara Gambs of Los Angeles, California; five nieces and nephews, Savanna, Michael, and Jake Scheffler of Harlan, and Ellen and Jack Klitgaard of Harlan; her dogs, Theo and Sally; and many other relatives and friends.