Arlene (Rena) G. Heckenlaible-Treloar

July 4, 1937 – December 29, 2024

Arlene (Rena) G. Heckenlaible-Treloar 87, of Waconia, Minnesota, formerly of Iola, Wisconsin, passed away Sunday Dec. 29, 2024.

She was born on July 4, 1937, in Boston, Massachusetts, to the late Joseph and Dorothy (Brown) Irr. 

Rena married Richard Heckenlaible on July 21, 1962, at Fort Eustis in Virginia, while they both were in the service.  While Richard was in the Navy, Rena was the secretary to the Adjutant General in the United States Army.

Soon after, they left the service and moved to the Heckenlaible family farm in Bonduel, Wisconsin. They had two sons, Richard II and Dale.

Rena enjoyed farming, camping, fishing (summer and winter), singing, swimming, and sharing her uplifting humor with her friends.  As she was born on July 4, she lived up to the reputation of being a firecracker. Her only grandson, Ty, was a highlight of her life, and she loved to spoil him. Everyone who met Rena loved her; she was caring, engaging, and funny.

Richard preceded her in death on June 1, 2009.  

She later married Chuck Treloar in November 2018. They lived near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were great companions until Chuck’s death in November 2021.

After Chuck’s death, Rena moved to Minnesota to live in the New Perspectives memory care unit near Dale and Connie. She was even able to swim weekly at this facility and felt that her “mind cleared” when she was in the pool. The staff at New Perspectives loved Rena’s sense of humor, singing, and engaging personality.

She is survived by her sons, Richard Heckenlaible II, of Iola, and Dale (Connie) Heckenlaible of Buffalo, Minnesota, and a grandson, Ty Heckenlaible. 

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Richard Heckenlaible and Chuck Treloar; her parents, Joseph and Dorothy Irr; and siblings, Joe, Peggy, Jimmy, and Dolly. 

Later in the spring, a graveside service with full Military Honors will be held at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King, Wisconsin.