Military and Personal History
Ernest
Grenz
11 May 1913 - 29 April 2000
Ernest worked as a farm hand from 1927 to 1942, during
which time in 1935 he married Emma Rudolph of Napoleon, ND.
Together they raised one son Vernon.
Ernest entered the US Army and received his Basic
Training at Camp Walters, Texas, 14 August 1944 to 27
January 1945. He was trained in heavy weapons. After Basic
Training he came home on furlough, then departed San
Francisco to Manila, Philippines where he served at Company
D, 161st Battalion, 25th Infantry
Division. He was in a staging area for two weeks, after
which they regrouped and were sent to Luzon, Philippines
where he became a Squad Leader of a 12 man squad. His squad
had 30 caliber water cooled machine guns. After ten days in
combat, they were taken off the hill for R&R at which time
he was promoted to Buck Sergeant by his lieutenant. He left
the Philippines on a ship for Japan where he was in charge
of the Officer’s Quarters for one month. He later came back
to Ft Lawton, WA, where he singed up for the Army Air Corps
for a short period of time.
Ernest married Anna May (Mollie) Robotham at Petaluma,
California, July 6, 1947. Anna May (Mollie) was born June
10, 1905, Arklaw, Ireland. Ernest re-enlisted in the US Army
in 1948 and served until 28 June 1952 when he has honorably
discharged as a Corporal. He received additional military
training at the Automotive Mechanic School, Lowery Field,
Colorado, and the AG School as a Disciplinary Guard, Camp
Lee, Virginia, December 1949. His military decorations
include the Good Conduct Medal, WW11 Victory Medal, Asiatic
Pacific Theater Medal w/one Bronze Star, Philippine
Liberation Ribbon w/one Bronze Star.
After his time in the Army, Ernest served as a prison
guard at the Folsom Federal Prison, Folsom, CA. He later
worked at the Sacramento Army Depot, Sacramento, CA, where
he retired with a medical disability. His second wife, Anna
May (Mollie) died January 5, 1986 in Mesa, Arizona. She was
cremated at Paradise Memorial Gardens, Scottsdale, Arizona
January 7, 1986. He and Anna May (mollie) enjoyed traveling,
visiting various historical sites, state and national parks,
and visiting friends and relatives.
His son Vernon died while on Active Duty in Germany as a
Colonel’s driver. He suffered monoxide poisoning while
waiting for his Commanding Officer in winter weather. He was
rushed to the military hospital outside Frankfurt, Germany
and died several days later. Vernon is buried at the Golden
Gate VA Cemetery, San Francisco, CA. Ernest’s only
granddaughter, Athena Maria Grenz O’Brien, lives somewhere
in California.
Ernest married Helen Klein May 4, 1991, Karlsrud, ND.
They traveled to Mesa, Arizona during the winter months and
returned to Karlsrud, ND during the summer months. Helen
shared that during the many miles traveled he enjoyed
listening to the old hymns he learned as a child. His
favorite hymn was "Gott is de Lebie" which was also the
favorite hymn of his mother and father. He enjoyed working
in repair shops and he enjoyed building miniature farmyards,
wagons and buggies.
In 1935, Ernest was converted in a revival meeting at the
Flat Baptist Church, located between Napoleon and Streeter,
ND, with the Rev. B. W. Krentz as the revival speaker. He
was baptized by immersion on his confession of faith in
Christ by the Rev. Knaap at the Wishek Baptist Church,
Wishek, ND. And became a member of the Napoleon Baptist
Church, Napoleon, ND. His favorite flower was the marigold.
Ernest is buried in the North Dakota Veterans Memorial
Cemetery, Mandan, ND
C:\Documents\Clint Grenz\Ernest
Grenz\Military and Personal HistoryErnest Grenz11 May
1913.wpd
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The
Bismarck Tribune,
ND
Obituary Ernest Grenz
Date of Death: 04/29/2000
Age 86
Karlsruhe, ND
KARLSRUHE -- Ernest Grenz, 86, Karlsruhe, died
April 29, 2000, in his home. Services will be held
at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Boelter Funeral Home,
Bismarck, with the Rev. Clinton E. Grenz, retired
Army chaplain officiating. Burial will be in North
Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, with
military rites by Bismarck VFW Gilbert N. Nelson
Post 1326. Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. today
and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday and until services
Tuesday at the funeral home.
Ernest was born to Fred and
Christina (Schnaidt) Grenz Sr., on May 11, 1913,
on the family farm near Napoleon. Ernest served in
the U.S. Army during World War II in the
Philippines and remained on active duty for six
years and four months. His military awards
included Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, with one
bronze star, and Philippine Liberation Medal with
one star. After his time in the Army, Ernest
served as a prison guard at the Folsom Federal
Prison, Folsom, Calif. He later worked at the
Sacramento Army Depot, Sacramento, Calif., where
he retired with a medical disability. Ernest
enjoyed traveling and visiting his many nieces and
nephews, and friends. In 1935, Ernest married Emma
Rudolph of Napoleon. Together they raised one son.
Ernest was a former member of the Napoleon Baptist
Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American
Legion. On May 4, 1991, he married Helen Klein.
He is survived by his wife,
Helen; two brothers, Roland and John, both of
Bismarck; one granddaughter, Athena Maria Grenz
O'Brien; many nieces and nephews; and a host of
friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Vernon;
his parents; one sister, Lydia Schauer; and five
brothers, Edwen, Fred Jr., Gideon, Adam and Jacob
Grenz. The family prefers memorials to Crystal
Springs Camp, Crystal Springs, N.D. (Boelter
Funeral Home)
Life Legacy
Helen Klein,
91, Minot, ND, formerly of
Karlsruhe, ND, passed away Friday,
June 8, 2012, at Trinity Hospital in
Minot.
Helen Merck was born
November 28, 1920, the third of
fifteen children to Jacob and Regina
(Boehm) Merck, in Karlsruhe, ND. She
was raised and educated in
Karlsruhe. As a young adult, she
worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in
Minot.
Helen married Pius J.
Klein June 17, 1941, at Sts. Peter
and Paul Catholic Church, Karlsruhe,
ND. They made their home on a farm
located in Karlsruhe Township of
McHenry County, south of Karlsruhe,
ND, where they farmed, raised
livestock, and raised their nine
children. They continued to farm
until 1978, when they moved into
Karlsruhe. Pius passed away
September 1, 1988.
Following
her husband’s death, she continued
to reside in Karlsruhe. She then
wintered in Mesa, AZ, where she met
and later married Ernest Grenz. They
wintered in Arizona for over 10
years. Ernest passed away in 2000.
In August of 2000, she became the
first resident of Somerset Court in
Minot. She enjoyed living there and
loved the staff that took such good
care of her. She partook in all the
activities, and especially loved not
having to cook anymore. While living
there, she went to daily mass, where
she prepared the altar for service
for some time. Mass and church meant
everything to Helen.
Helen
was dedicated to the Karlsruhe
community. She was a member of Sts.
Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Karlsruhe, ND, and its Christian
Mothers group. She was also a member
of the Karlsruhe Senior Citizens.
Helen enjoyed spending time
with her brothers, sisters, children
and her many grandchildren. Her many
interests included music, dancing,
gardening, and also long walks. She
will be missed by all. We Love you
mom!
Her loving family
includes: children, Dairl (Pat)
Klein, Karlsruhe, Wilfred (Marianne)
Klein, Minot, Ronald (Gloria) Klein,
Karlsruhe, Julie (Jerry) Sorenson,
Minot, Lucy (John) Rosatti,
Bottineau, Peter Klein, Karlsruhe,
James (Deanna) Klein, Minot, and
Helen (Robert) Whysong, Greenback,
TN; daughter-in-law, JoAnn Klein,
Wahpeton, ND; 21 grandchildren:
Teresa (Mike) Koppang, Tim Klein,
Kristen (Mike) Kjar, Rory (Cindy)
Klein, Kerry Klein, Steve (Kathy)
Klein, Vicki Duchsherer, Daniel
Klein, Willy Joe (Sarah) Klein,
Kristi (Dean) Feist, Tiffany
Marking, Jack Klein, Jerry Sorenson
Jr., Jason (Tricia) Sorenson, Tricia
Rosatti, Ryan (Sara) Klein, Scott
Klein, Lexi Klein, Mallary Klein,
Hannah Klein, Canterra Whysong; 28
great-grandchildren; five great
great-grandchildren; brothers, Fred
(Kathleen) Merck, Minot, and Tony (Ardyth)
Merck, Karlsruhe; sisters, Eva
Pinchero, Detroit, MI, Catherine
Schmalz, Fargo, ND, Maryann
Burckhard, Towner, Ida (Tony)
Lauinger, Karlsruhe, Agnes (Irving)
Traiser, Minot, Angela (Emanuel)
Klein, Towner, Regina (Dan) Feist,
Minot and Valeria Nystrom, Fargo;
sisters-in-law, Cecilia Merck, Jean
Merck, Beatrice Merck, all of Minot;
numerous nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Helen was preceded
in death by her parents; husband,
Pius; son, Norbert Klein;
great-grandson, Reed Kjar; brothers,
Mike, John, Frank, and Christian
Merck; brothers-in-law, Joe Pinchero,
Alex Schmalz, Joe Burckhard, Milo
Nystrom.
Mass of Christian
Burial: Monday, June 11, 2012, at
10:30 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul
Catholic Church, Karlsruhe, ND.
Interment: Sts. Peter and Paul
Catholic Cemetery, Karlsruhe, ND.
Visitation: Sunday from 1 to 5
p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral
Home, Minot.
Vigil Prayer
Service: Sunday at 5 p.m. at
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: are preferred to
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic
Cemetery, Karlsruhe, ND.
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