Melvin Renneckar

Mel Renneckar passed away peacefully the morning of July 6, 2023 after several months of illness. He was born in Dover, Ohio on March 20, 1938 to Melvin L. and Madeline McQuillin Renneckar, the eldest of three children. He moved to Boulder City, Nevada in the 1950's and graduated from Boulder City High School in 1956. He enlisted in the US Navy Reserve while in high school and was called to active duty in October 1956, where he served as an electronics technician aboard the destroyer escort USS Durant in the Pacific. He operated and maintained radar, electronic, and electrical equipment; this was the beginning of a life-long fascination with electronics and all things mechanical.



Following his service in the Navy, he worked for RCA on several Atlantic Missile Range (later Eastern Test Range) tracking stations in the Atlantic, maintaining and operating communications, tracking radar, and command control equipment. He later transferred to Green River UT and the Nevada Test Site. He moved to Las Cruces in the mid 60's to attend NMSU, and was part of the crew who designed and installed the equipment for KRWG-FM when the station was moved from control of the Electrical Engineering Department to the newly-formed Journalism and Mass Communications Department in 1964.



He worked for Lockheed and Dynalectron at WSMR and WSTF in the mid-60's to mid-70's, designing, operating, and maintaining a wide variety of electronic equipment; he later moved to PSL at NMSU until the late 90's, and was coaxed out of retirement for a few years to return to WSMR.



Mel was a ham radio operator and built much of his own equipment; he held both a general amateur license and a first-class commercial license. Mel could fix literally anything; his knowledge of the principles upon which equipment was based was both broad and deep.



He was also an avid aircraft pilot; one of his favorite planes was his Aeronca 7AC Champ, which he flew from Boulder City to Las Cruces when he moved here in the 60's. He was an active member of EAA-555, the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Other hobbies included jeeping, hiking, exploring, photography, music, and reading, and he was a champion tinkerer. He also loved a spirited "discussion" and could argue any side of any debate.



Mel was predeceased by his parents and his brother Marvin. He is survived by his sister Marlene Quinn of Boulder City, and several nieces and nephews. He will also be dearly missed by his many friends, "adopted" family, and the many recipients of his unsung generosity. No services are planned, but his ashes will be scattered at one of his favorite places at a later time.