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Christian Grenz
Obituary
Funeral services held in
Napoleon Sun. afternoon were attended by a
large gathering of friends from throughout
the county. A prayer service was
held at the home, followed by services at
the German Baptist Church, which was far
too small to accommodate the throng who
had come to pay their respects to their
departed friend. Rev. B. W. Krentz,
Wishek, spoke in English, and Rev. J.J.
Abel, Lehr, spoke in German. The
Baptist choir rendered three numbers, Miss
Margaret Miller played the funeral march.
Interment was made in
the Napoleon, cemetery. The
pallbearers were Jacob Martin, Streeter;
John Woehl, Streeter; Berthold Grenz,
Artas; Henry Oldenberger, Andrew Zimmerman
and G.G. Grenz of Napoleon.
Born in Russia Christian
Grenz was Born Oct. 10, 1867, in Odessa,
So. Russia, and came to America with his
parents in 1885, when they settled at
Eureka, SD. Dec. 22, 1889. he was united
in marriage with Miss Barbara Nathan.
Thirteen children were born to the union.
Mr. Grenz and his bride homesteaded five
miles west of Eureka.
In 1900 Mr. Grenz
purchased a farm 13 miles east of
Napoleon. He was a school board
member of Grenz district, named in his
honor. He served as Logan Co.
commissioner of the first district from
1915 to 1919.
Mr. Grenz retired from
farming in 1915 and moved to Napoleon,
where he erected a cottage near the
Baptist Church. He was Deacon of the
German Baptist Church for the Streeter
district and later for the Napoleon
parish, serving in this capacity for about
25 yrs.
Seven children preceded
him in death. Deceased leaves besides his
wife, four sons, Christian Jr. of Monroe,
WI.; Otto, Julius and Richard of Napoleon;
and two daughters, Mrs. Adam (Julda)
Gohring and Miss Frieda Grenz of Napoleon.
He also leaves five brothers, John and
William, who resides in OR; Henry, who
resides in CA; Jacob of Pettibone, and
Fred of Napoleon; two sisters, Mrs. George
Zeller, Eureka, and Mrs. Lydia Nathan,
Lodi, CA.
Ill for 4
months, died of Cancer of the stomach.
He received treatments from several
doctors. On Jan 8, Rev Krents took
Mr. and Mrs. Grenz to Hudson, Wis. to
consult a specialist, but Mr. Grenz was
unable to get relief. They visited
their son Christian Jr. at Monroe, Wis.
before returning here Jan 19.
Mr. Grenz was of sturdy
build and had been active until his recent
illness. He was a man of excellent
character, his honesty was never
questioned. Voters of the third district
elected him Co. commissioner in 1914 and
during the four years he held that office
his policy was conservatism and fair
dealing.
A few years after he
moved to town he was elected third ward
trusts of the village board. After
serving a 2 yr. term, one of which he was
mayor, he was re-elected a year ago for a
4 yr term.
The large number of
people who came here Sunday to attend the
last rites for their departed friend was a
testimonial of the high regard in which he
was held by Logan Co. residents.
From: Napoleon
Homestead - Friday, Feb. 5, 1935 |
