Grenz

Obituary for William Grenz

Nov. 9, 1923 - Jan. 23, 2006

Bill, 82, of Marion died Monday at his home.

He was born at home on Scravel Hill near Jefferson, the son of William F. and Rose M. (Thiessen) Grenz. He was the first of three children.

He attended Scravel Hill Grade School and graduated from Albany High School at the age of 16 in 1940.

Bill married Ellen Hightower on Nov. 19, 1949, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Jefferson. They lived in Albany until 1954, when they moved into the house they built on Scravel Hill. They bought a farm in Marion in 1964 and have lived there since. They enjoyed spending their winter months in Palm Springs, Calif., and Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.

He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Jefferson, Knights of Columbus, the Elks Lodge and the Morningstar Grange. He was an avid bowler for many years and played baseball as a youth.

Bill is survived by wife Ellen Grenz of Marion; children Perry Grenz and wife Amanda of Marion, Becky Grenz of Vancouver, Wash., Debbie Hadley of Marion, and Robin Bozarth and husband Gordon of Vancouver; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister Marge Shuck of Salem. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Grenz.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fisher Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany, with committal service following at Jefferson Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Willamette Valley Hospice in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).

Obituary for Ellen (Hightower) Grenz

Graveside services for Ellen will be at the Jefferson Cemetery, Friday Sept 30th at 2:30 P.M.

Oct. 16, 1929 — Sept. 26, 2011
Ellen Grenz, 81, passed away peacefully Monday morning in Salem with her loving family at her side.

Ellen was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., the second daughter and fourth child of Montella Elizabeth Forsythe and Cornelius Hall Hightower Sr. She lived with her family there until moving to Southern California in 1941. The family resided there until after World War II, then moved to areas in and around Marion and North Santiam.
She met her husband, the late William C. Grenz, in Jefferson and they were married there on Nov. 19, 1949. They lived happily together for 56 years; first in Albany, then in Jefferson and finally on the family farm in Marion.

Ellen is survived by her four children, Debbie Hadley of Marion, Robin Bozarth and husband Gordon of Vancouver, Wash., Perry Grenz and wife Amanda of Marion, and Becky Grenz and husband Barry Fisher of Vancouver, Wash. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Stacie Hadley, Steve Hadley, Dana Ziemer and husband Cy, Scott Darland and Samantha Grenz; two great-grandchildren, Lilly and Carter Ziemer; brother Jim Hightower of Marion; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Pete, Bill and Thom Hightower; and two sisters, Betty Lou Hightower and Katherine Bays.

A graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Jefferson. Family and friends will be welcomed at Debbie Hadley’s home on Stayton Road in Marion after the service.
Those who wish may contribute to Willamette Valley Hospice in care of Fisher Funeral Home in Albany.