Fern Renner: Is Lawrence Welk's Wife Still Alive?

Publish date: 2024-05-21

Fern Renner is the wife of Lawrence Welk, who was an American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the television program The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982. He earned a large audience on radio, and television, and had a lot of live-performance fans. He was also a skillful businessman.

Fern Renner and her husband Lawrence Welk were married for many decades. They remained married until death took Lawrence Welk away. Their long union lasted from the year 1931 until the year 1992.

Fern Renner: Bio Summary

NameFern Renner
Date of birth26 August 1903
Died13 February 2002 (aged 98)
Famous asLawrence Welk’s wife
ParentsMathias Renner and Elizabeth Anton Renner
SpouseLawrence Welk
ChildrenLawrence Welk Jr, Donna Welk, and Shirley Welk

Who Is Fern Renner?

Fern Renner is also known as Fern Veronica Renner. She was born on 26 August 1903, in Saint Anthony, Morton County, North Dakota, USA. Her parents are Mathias Renner and Elizabeth Anton Renner. Fern reportedly grew up on a farm near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

Fern Renner’s siblings are Ambrose Renner, Nicodemus Renner, Karl Charles Renner, Rose Renner Helbling, Bridget Renner Weber, and John M Renner. Much is unknown about Fern’s early life and educational background. Fern Renner got married to Lawrence Welk.

The couple were married for 61 years. They are the parents of three children; Lawrence Welk Jr, Donna Welk, and Shirley Welk. Their son Lawrence Welk Jr. married fellow Lawrence Welk Show performer Tanya Falan; they later divorced.

Fern Renner’s Husband Lawrence Welk

Lawrence Welk was born on March 11, 1903, in Strasburg, North Dakota, U.S. He was born in the German-speaking community of Strasburg, North Dakota, and did not learn to speak English until he was twenty-one and never felt comfortable speaking it in public.

Lawrence Welk’s parents are Ludwig Welk and Christina Welk. His parents were Roman Catholic ethnic Germans who emigrated in 1892 from Odessa, Russian Empire, now Ukraine. The family lived on a homestead that is now a tourist attraction.

Lawrence Welk persuaded his father to buy a mail-order accordion as he decided to do music. In exchange for the accordion, he promised his father he would work on the farm until he gets to the age of 21 years. Any money he made elsewhere during that time, working on the farm or performing, would go to his family.

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In the 1920s, Lawrence Welk performed with several bands before forming an orchestra. He led big bands in North Dakota and eastern South Dakota, including the Hotsy Totsy Boys and the Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra. His band was also the station band for the popular radio programming WNAX in Yankton, South Dakota.

Lawrence Welk became an iconic figure in the German-Russian community of the northern Great Plains—his success story personified the American dream. He is an American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the television program The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982.

Lawrence Welk’s style came to be known to his large audience of radio, television, and live-performance fans (and critics) as “champagne music”.

Is Fern Renner Still Alive?

Fern Renner died on 13 February 2002, in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA. She died at the age of 98 years. Fern Renner’s husband Lawrence Welk died of pneumonia on May 17, 1992, at age 89 in his Santa Monica apartment, surrounded by his family. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, in Culver City, California.

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