Edward Grenz

Although Ed only completed 6th grade, he received a practical education in being a farmer from his father; he also learned to repair his own equipment from his father.  when you are a farmer, you are a jack-of-all-trades!  When Ed was 16, he spent two years in the CCC program at Minot.  As a CCC boy, he received $ 30/month, and $25 of that was paid to his parents, while Ed only was allowed 5/mo. for his personal expenses, such as clothing, etc.  after returning to the family farm in 1941.  Ed worked for his father.  With the outbreak of WW II in Dec. 1941, his father was able to get a deferment for Ed since the two oldest boys, Bill and Jake, were in the Service.

Ed & Lucille met when Ed came with his Dad to thrash grain at her uncles' farm, where Lucille was working.  They dated for about 1 1/2 years before Ed was called into the service.  He joined the Army in Feb. 1945, and received training as a paratrooper.  After being stationed in Japan for 11 months, he was discharged in August. 1947.

Ed & Lucille were married at the Chapel of the Pines in Rochert, MN, which was located about 3 miles east of the school that Lucille had attended.  The first farm they lived on was located about 2 or 3 miles east of the Gottlieb Grenz farm near Tower City.  They moved to Page in 1948, and then lived on several different farms after that, although they lived mainly north of Tower city for 25 years.

Ed enjoyed fishing and hunting, and Lucille joined him in those sports after the children were old enough not to fall out of the boat.  They had riding horses for several years and were actively involved in a Saddle Horse Club in Tower City.  They also had snowmobiles and enjoyed riding them when winter came.

Due to ill-health, Ed had to retire.  They built a house in Tower in 1977.  In 1982, they fulfilled Ed's life-long dream of going to Alaska.  They were accompanied on this trip by Bill and Vi Grenz.

Although Ed wanted to make another trip to Alaska in the ensuing years, his health continued to deteriorate.  He died of cancer in 1987, just six weeks after the Gottlieb Grenz Family had their first Grenz Family Reunion in Tower city on July 4, 1987.

Ed had made many friends during his 63 years plus.  The small Church in Tower City where his funeral was held could not hold them all, especially since his immediate family, plus brothers, sisters and their spouses in addition to nieces, nephews and their children completely filled the center section of the Church.  Friends filled both side sections, plus the basement, so there were many people who stood in the back of the Church and outside on the steps and lawn.

Ed was buried at memorial Gardens Cemetery with a full military Honor Guard.

A good man is miss by everyone who knew him.