He grew up in Beaverdale and West Des Moines and graduated from Valley High School.  He then attended Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he graduated in 1954 with a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  He was married to Vernal Neifert on December 26, 1954 and they spent the next six years traveling around the country to various Air Force bases where Rollie was a Navigator/Bombardier on a B47 Strato Jet in the Strategic Air Command.  He then had a career as a social studies teacher and coach in the Indianola Community school system for 30 years.  He was involved in announcing track meets for Indianola High School Athletic Department for 28 years, for which he received the "Rollie Renard Volunteer Service Award", which will be given each year in his name.  He earned two Master's Degrees, one in Guidance and Counseling from Truman University (Phi Beta Kappa) and the other in Educational Administration from Drake University.

He had an endless curiosity about everything, sports, travel, photography, fishing, reading, gardening, even crossword puzzles.  Rollie and Vernal spent 36 summers at their beloved Stony Lake in Hackensack, MN in the cabin Rollie helped construct.  Rollie loved keeping in touch with many of his former students.  In his younger years, he was involved in many of the Carousel Theater productions.

He is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Vernal, sons, Kelly (Rhonda), of Murfreesboro, TN, Randy (Tracie) of Indianola, and daughter, Tammy (Mike) Day, of Omaha, NE and ten grandchildren.  He leaves his brother Jack (Lynn) of Grand Junction, CO, in-laws Jean and Wendell Fetters and Genny Bridges.  He also had many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 15 at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola of which he was a member.  Visitation will be held 4 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 14 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. to greet friends.  Memorials may be directed to Des Moines YMCA Camp, Graceland University, Trinity United Presbyterian Church and Union Congregational Church in Hackensack, MN, the defining influences of his life.