MU | Notes
In Memoriam
RENEE FANCHER MCFADDEN ’ 82 , 64 , died June 17 , 2023 .
Renée met the love of her life , Dave McFadden ’ 82 , on the first day of firstyear orientation at Manchester College in August 1976 . They were inseparable by the time classes started , engaged in January and married the next November .
Renée spent the final nine years of her life as first spouse of Manchester University , where Dave served as president . They were partners in the work , traveling for donor visits , attending myriad campus activities and hosting countless groups of students , colleagues and friends of the University at Tall Oaks , the president ’ s residence .
Renée graduated from Manchester in 1982 and spent many years as an educator , teaching students from first grade through college . She spent most of her career teaching elementary school in California , North Manchester and Warsaw . She spent two years on the faculty of Manchester College and several more as a classroom reading coach in Wabash and Kosciusko counties . She earned a Master of Education degree from Azusa Pacific University with an emphasis in reading .
Renée was born June 23 , 1958 , in Harrisonburg , Virginia . She is survived by her husband Dave , children Rachel and Sam ( Mackenzie Coulter-Kern ), mother Doris Carpenter , brothers Joseph ( Karen ), Jon ( Mary ) and Neil ( Beth ), grandson Ruben and many extended family members . She was preceded in death by her father , Donald Eugene Fancher , and James Carpenter .
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