Elmer, a life-long resident of Aurora, was born and raised on the southeast side just a few blocks where East High is now located. He attended St. Paul's Lutheran Day School, East Aurora High School (class of 1938) and received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1943.

In May 1943, Renner received orders to report to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, for Officer Training and on August 31, 1943 was commissioned as an Ensign in the USNR. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Johnston, on September 4, 1943.

His first tour of duty was at Penn State University for further training. Upon graduation, he was assigned to sea duty operating out of Panama on a small minesweeper, the USS Brambling AMC 39. In September 1944, he was reassigned to the USS YMS 472 then under construction. The 472 was commissioned November 10, 1944 and operated out of New York for five months before joining the Pacific Fleet. On Septmeber 16, 1945, while anchored in Buckner Bay Okinawa, the 472 was ordered to sea to avoid an approaching typhoon, but instead intersected with it and capsized at sea. Renner and eight others were able to escape on a raft only to suffer six days without food, water, or sleep. He and three others survived.

Returning to Aurora, he joined Stephens-Adamson Mfg Co., retiring in 1984, after 41 years of service as Senior Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of Carrier Manufacturing, Louisville, Kentucky and on the Board of Directors of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association.

While a resident of Aurora, he was also active in civic affairs having served on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, Visiting Nurses, American red Cross, East Seal Society, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and the Aurora County Club.

Over the last ten years, he has written a book describing his ordeal with the capsizing of the YMS 472 and his survival at sea entitled Sea of Sharks, The Naval Institute Press published it in 2004. Elmer and Dorothy have been married for 61 years, raised four daughters, and still reside in Aurora.