On November 5, 1935 Rennie was born on the family farm in Southey, Saskatchewan, the youngest of 15 children.  He passed away at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital on July 31, 2026 at the age of 90.

Rennie was an avid hockey players and spent many an hour skating on the farm dugout.  As a very young man he played for the Regina Pats B Division.  His love for hockey continued for many years when he played with a couple of Old-timers teams.

In June of 1967, Rennie married Heather McIvor and began their life together.

Rennie was introduced to the world of thoroughbred race horses in 1968 when he went to work at Canadiana Farm Stables on the outskirt of South Calgary.  With the city expanding, the farm relocated outside of Airdrie, Alberta in 1971.  During the time Rennie managed the farm, he travelled to Kentucky, Florida, California and Ireland for horse sales and to the California and Florida racetracks where most of the farm’s horses raced.

In 1979, Rennie and Heather decided to try a new venture when the family moved to the Edmonton area to manage Elmbrook Stables, a large multi-faceted thoroughbred operation with many outside clients located near Gibbons, Alberta.  During breeding season, Elmbrook often had over 100 horses on the farm under his care.

While at Elmbrook, Rennike was elected to the Board of Directors of the CTHS (Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society(Alberta Division), and in 1988 the family moved off the farm and back to Calgary when Rennie became the Manager of the CTHS, a position he held for almost 20 years.

In 2007, Rennie and Heather retired to the peace and quiet of the small city of Kimberley, BC where he remained until his passing.  Their daughter and family relocated to Kimberley living in a house right next door which allowed him to watch his two grandsons grow up.  Their son moved to Cranbrook a few years later.

Rennie never lost his love of horse racing.  For a few years, simulcast racing was available at the St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino outside of Cranbrook.  Trips to Calgary always included a “day at the races” at Century Downs.  In his later years, he was content to watch horse racing from New York on the Fox Sports Racing Channel.

Left to mourn his passing and miss him are his beloved wife of 59 years, Heather, daughter Julie Gellner (Adrian Wrona) and son Scott Gellner of Cranbook, BC.  Rennie also leaves to mourn his grandchildren; Oscar and Isaac Wrona of Kimberley as well as Justin and Rachel Zuk as well as four great grandchildren.  Rennie also leaves his brother Irvin Gellner and sister Delores Wingert; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Alan and Vera McIvor as well as many extended family members.  Rennie was predeceased by his mother and father, Julia and Jacob Gellner, a son Richard (Rick) Zuk from a previous marriage, a brother Larry Gellner, brother-in-law Roruy McIvor and sisters-in-law Betty Gellner, Kay Gellner and Anna McIvor as well as 11 half brothers and sisters.

At Rennie’s request, there will be no funeral service.

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