His college football career was interrupted by service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

At the time of the 1930 United States Census, he lived at Three Rivers, Michigan, with his parents and a younger brother, Warren H.

[3] After the 1944 season, Renner was inducted into the United States Marine Corps,[4] but he was discharged in the fall of 1945 following the end of World War II.

[7] At the end of the 1945 season, Renner was elected by his teammates as the captain of the 1946 Michigan Wolverines football team.

[12] Renner was selected by the Green Bay Packers as the 56th pick in the 1946 NFL draft, but he chose a career in engineering over professional football.