Renee Marie Korst passed away at her home in Huntington, Vt., on June 16, 2026, at the age of 74.
Renee was born on March 16, 1952, in San Diego, Calif., to Elizabeth (“Sam”) and Richard (“Dick”) Korst and was raised in Joliet, Ill. She was a graduate of Parkland College, where she earned a degree in nursing. She subsequently worked as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Urbana, Ill. Her true passion, however, was painting, which she pursued through art classes at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign while employed as a nurse.
It was there, in spring 1980, that she met her future husband, Jim Brannen. The couple relocated to Vermont in 1981 and, in 1983, purchased a home in Huntington, where Renee resided for the remainder of her life. She continued her nursing career at Fanny Allen Hospital.
In 1987, following a long struggle with fertility, Jim and Renee welcomed their son, Matthew. Renee continued to paint throughout the years that followed, while raising her son and working part time as a nurse.
Renee held a lifelong love of the ocean and took great pleasure in swimming. She traveled frequently with her parents to Mexico and the Caribbean and later in life developed a passion for dance, first through African dance and subsequently folk dancing.
Renee is survived by her husband, Jim Brannen; her son, Matthew; her grandson, Landon; her sister, Vicki; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.