Farina | “We’re all just one big family” is how Karen Mowers, Illinois Campers on Mission (COM) Secretary, described the volunteer evangelism ministry. That family suffered a major blow when it lost two of its members to a tragic car accident just before a major spring planning meeting.
James Rentfrow, 76, and his wife, Catherine, 77, succumbed to the injuries they sustained on Feb. 19 in a multi-vehicle accident on I-57 south of Effingham.
James Rentfrow (left) with Illinois Campers on Mission President Fred Riley at Pineywoods Baptist Camp in Texas. (Facebook photo)
The couple planned to participate in COM’s Annual February Fling Planning Meeting at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp the next day. “James had baked three loaves of his banana bread to bring to the meeting,” said Mowers. “Their daughter said it was sitting on the counter.”
Both were hospitalized in Champaign where James died March 3 with Catherine following him in death on March 7. They were married 27 years.
“It breaks our hearts,” said Mowers. “James died holding her hand…. Our comfort is we know they are with Jesus and back together again.”
They also served together with Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief. James was a Blue Hat and Catherine was on Childcare and Shower/Laundry Unit teams.
The couple had been active with COM working at both IBSA Camps, Streator and Lake Sallateeska. Mike Young, pastor of The Ridge Church in Carbondale, worked with them when he served as manager of Streator Baptist Camp. He described James as “quiet, a hard worker, and someone who did what was asked of him…. They loved Campers on Mission,” Young said. “Both were strong believers and there is great assurance in that.”
Catherine Rentfrow (right) with Jan Kragness at Pineywoods Baptist Camp in Texas. (Facebook photo)
The Rentfrows had just returned from serving at Pineywoods Baptist Camp in Groveton, Texas, where they and other Illinois COM volunteers had reunited with former Lake Sallateeska Manager Philip Hall, who is now that camp’s project manager. The couple spent a few weeks adding bathrooms onto cabins and helping refurbish a conference center.
Jan Kragness and her husband, Don. serve as national COM coordinators. “We are all very devastated by the loss of James and Catherine,” she said. “This is not how we would choose it…. All of us, we’re hurting, but it gives us more reason to push forward and go on.”
The Rentfrows were awarded the Campers on Mission Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. They are survived by two daughters, three sons, four grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation is March 13, 5-8 p.m., at First Southern Baptist Church of Farina where they were active members. A second visitation will be held at the church March 14 an hour before the 11 a.m. service. For memorials and other information, visit SunderlandFuneralHome.com.