Raymond_M_Grenz

Peggy Poppett

Obituary's

Raymond M Grenz Obituary

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, co-worker and friend, Ray passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home on Monday, September 26, 2005. He is survived by his loving wife, the former Peggy Ann Poppett, who he married on December 18, 1955. Ray was born in Medina, North Dakota on January 8, 1931 and came to Sacramento in 1937 with his parents and siblings.

His parents, Emil E Grenz and Esther A. Hartwig Grenz and his brothers Aaron R. Grenz and Roger E. Grenz, sisters Bertha H. Corbett, Alice M. Smith and Deanna K. Grenz all preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son Jeffrey R., daughter-in-law Vicki V. Armstrong Grenz, and grandchildren, Devin, Brenna, & Julian; daugher Theresa A. Grenz Goldner, son -in-law Richard S. Goldner, grandchildren Gregory & Elizabeth; son Christopher M. & daughter-in-law Karen A. Gustafson Grenz, grandchildren Alexandra M., Kaitlynn V. & Lindsee J.; and daughter Linda K. Grenz Clapham, son-in-law Todd A. Clapham, grandchildren Warren T.& Corinne P.

He is also survived by his brothers, Dr. Lester L. Grenz, his wife Jann Theilmann Grenz, Larrie N. Grenz, wife Diane Watson Grenz, and his sisters Darlene J. Grenz Irvine, her husband Robert Irvine and Arless J. Grenz Botta, her late husband Paul Botta and shis sister-in-law, Joan C. Orr Grenz Buehler, her husband Walter Buehler plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ray graduated with the C.K. McClatchy class of 49 where he played football, ran track, served as Rally Committee Chair and class vice president. He also attended Sacramento City College until he was called up from the Reserve to serve in the United States Air Force where he served as a flight engineer during the Korean War.

After being discharged he joined his father Emil and brother Aaron in the family home construction business. In 1956, he qualified for and received his B-1 Contractors license. The company built homes in many subdivisions including Land Park, South Land Park, and Lindale, In 1969, Ray started his own construction company: Ray Grenz Construction, which he later incorporated. He developed subdivisions and built custom homes in Sacramento County, South Placer County and El Dorado County. Clients from years gone by still stop him when they see him and say: "Remember us? You built our home 20 years ago in American River Canyon." And, he would remember them, reciting incidents that occurred during the building process. Ray served on the Building Industry Association's Board of Directors for several years, receiving the esteemed Past Presidents Award in 1980. He also was a member of the board of Big Brothers and 20-30 Clubs.

He is a member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society and recently attended their annual convention in Pierre, SD. Ray retired in 1996, turning over the company business to his son, Chris. His son Jeff also started a home building company so Ray spent six days a week helping each of them with any jobs that needed to be done.

At other times he loved to travel with his wife, Peggy or you could find him cheering on his grandkids at their soccer games, baseball games and diving meets. Family and friends are invited to a visitation Monday, October 3 from 4 - 8 pm at East Lawn Mortuary, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 6, 2005 at the Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, 11427 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA. at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. The family requests no flowers, but donations to ALS Association, Sacramento Children's Home, Big Brothers, or the charity of your choice would be much appreciated.

Peggy Poppett Obituary

Peggy Grenz, a dynamic businesswoman and civic activist who was a leader in the real estate industry, died Dec. 7, her family said. She was 77.

Mrs. Grenz told The Bee in a 1981 profile that, like many women of her generation, she went to college in the 1950s for a “degree in husbandry.” She dropped out after a year at San Jose State to marry Raymond Grenz, who went on to be a developer and builder of custom homes in Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties.

After raising a family, however, Mrs. Grenz launched her own business career and rose to leadership positions in professional and civic groups with “a broad, easy smile,” with “a warmth and trust in people” and a “belief in herself that she can do whatever she sets out to do,” The Bee reported. With experience in helping sell her husbands home’s, she earned a real estate license in 1968. Five years later, she became a broker and opened her own office.
In 1980, she was named Realtor of the year by the Sacramento Board of Realtors and businesswoman of the year by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. She was a director and regional vice president of the California Association of Realtors, 1981 president of the Sacramento Board of Realtors and a director of the National Association of Realtors. She served on the board of Commerce Security Bank.

Mrs. Grenz volunteered with the Sacramento Children’s Home Guild for 17 years and was president in 1967-68. She was a past president of the 20-30ettes, an auxiliary of the Active 20-30 Club.

She played a leading role in a fund raising project for the Sacramento Children’s Home Guild that involved construction of a donated home on American River Drive. With her experience in home building and real estate, she oversaw the sale of the house for proceeds that funded construction of a restaurant and gift shop to support the children’s home.

“One of the neighbors described her as a mover and shaker,” said her daughter Teri Goldner. “She really was a leader. She was a person who could make things happen.”

A longtime Republican Party activist, Mrs. Grenz ran unsuccessfully for the state Assembly in 1982. Two years later, Gov. George Deukmejian appointed her to the Small Business Development Board.

Born Nov. 2, 1936, in San Bernardino, Peggy Ann Poppett grew up in Santa Barbara and Phoenix before her family settled in Sacramento in 1949. She graduated from Grant High School.
After retiring in the 1990s, Mrs. Grenz was active in the Sacramento County and Sun City chapters of the Federation of Republican Women. She took up knitting and weaving, learned to spin yarn from raw wool, cotton and silk, and joined the Weavers and Spinners Guild and the Handweavers Guild of America. Besides making sweaters and scarves for family members and friends, she made and donated hats and blankets for foster children.

She was married for 50 years to her husband and had four children, including two sons, Jeff and Chris, who are Realtors. A former Sacramento and Fair Oaks resident, she lived most recently in Roseville, where she died at home in her sleep.
“It was just unexpected,” her daughter said. “She wasn’t ill. She had been out dancing the night before.”

Mrs. Grenz was predeceased by her husband in 2005. She is survived by four children, Jeff, Teri Goldner, Chris and Linda; and 11 grandchildren.

A service was held Dec. 17 at East Lawn Mortuary in Sacramento. Donations may be made to the Sacramento Children”s Home or the Federation of Republican Women Scholarship Fund.