Mark Andrew Rentz

Mark Andrew Rentz, known as Andrew to friends, family, and co-workers passed away at home in July of this year. He was 63 years old. Andrew was born on July 7, 1963 in Norman, Oklahoma to Ruth and Robert Rentz. He was adopted at the age of 8 by Robert Firestone, Ruth’s second husband. He was predeceased by Ruth and Robert Firestone and Robert Rentz as well as a host of beloved cats, Shibata, Firefly, Fuzzy, Lunie, Schwartzel, and Abdab. He is survived by a sister, Susan C. Krause (Doug Ormond), niece, Katharine Abdoo (Sean), great-niece, Brie Abdoo, and great-nephew, William Abdoo as well as five cats, Max, Moritz, Ginger, Little, and George.

A long-time resident of Hays, Andrew had an interesting and adventurous life. He had the opportunity to spend his junior year of high school  attending a German Gymnasium in Regensburg, Germany. This kindled in him an interest in the German people, language, and culture. While in college he again had the opportunity to attend school in Regensburg, honing his knowledge of the German language and country. During his time in Germany, he traveled extensively in Europe visiting Italy, Greece, France, East Germany and various other countries. He enjoyed regaling friends and family with humorous tales of his adventures while abroad.

Andrew graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia Missouri in 1985 with degrees in marketing and German. During his lifetime he tried many different professions one of which was as a school photographer for the Life Touch company. He enjoyed this work as he had a keen interest in photography as well as people. When Andrew was 8 or 9 he was enrolled in a photography summer camp with one of the activities being taking a picture of the sun and developing it, this triggered a lifelong interest in photography. As a school photographer he traveled extensively in western Kansas. He always had his camera with him and would take pictures along his routes of abandoned buildings and structures. As a teenager he built his own darkroom and enjoyed developing his own film. Andrew was also very interested in wood working and made many frames for the family as well as a coffee table for his mother, Ruth.

Another keen interest of Andrew’s was music. He had a vast collection of albums, CDs, and tapes. He loved going to rock concerts his favorite venue being Red Rocks in Denver. His favorite group was Pink Floyd and he had been lucky enough to see them in person several times. He also had a collection of musical instruments and possessed an immense amount of knowledge on a variety of musical subjects. In addition to music, Andrew also was an avid reader, his favorite genre being Science Fiction and his favorite book being Dune. He also enjoyed books regarding World War Two, particularly those about the planes and ships used during the conflict.

Andrew was a very funny person with a well-developed sense of humor, he was kind, he was generous, and he never met a stranger. He will be missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Inurnment will follow the Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory – Brock’s Chapel, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601.

Memories and words of comfort may be shared with Mark's family on his tribute page via: www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com