Gene Grethen, 89, of Carroll died Sunday, August 25, 2013 in his home, surrounded by his family.
Gene Grethen was the ninth of ten children, born on the family farm east of Mallard on December 23, 1923, to Jacob and Mary (Segar) Grethen. Gene graduated from Rolfe High School. He had the opportunity to be a farmer, carpenter, entrepreneur, and was known to be a hard worker who was loyal to his employers and enjoyable to work with. On June 23, 1952 he was joyfully united in marriage to Millie Hausman at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Halbur, Iowa. In 1962 he moved his family to Greenfield Iowa, where Gene farmed until 1967 when they moved to Carroll Iowa. Gene gave 30 years of dedicated service to the Carroll Parks Department from where he retired. Gene was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He attended mass nearly every morning, enjoyed playing cards with his buddies in the morning, and taking a midday break with his coffee buddies at the local grocery. He liked taking long walks. After his beloved Millie passed away, he often times walked to the cemetery to visit her and to tend a headstone plant or to bring a flower. He loved to tend his vegetable garden and had a green thumb that could grow almost anything. He enjoyed music, current events, old western TV shows and the company of his family and his friends. He vacationed with his family every year and for many decades, spent a week at Fillenwarths Beach, on West Lake Okoboji with brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Although he wasn’t much of a swimmer, he most enjoyed the evening booze cruises and Monday night mixers on the waterfront. He enjoyed his last Okoboji sunset under the loving care of his dear family this past July. He volunteered his time to his community, volunteering for church related tasks, planting flowers for the city in spring and cutting fabric squares for rug making.
Gene is survived by his children Steven Grethen of Carroll and Lisa Bohn of Des Moines Iowa; Grandchildren, Megan Gainey, Abby Grethen, Jeannie (James) Dawson and Michael Smith; Great grandchildren, Joseph, Katie, Emma Jean, and Amberleigh Dawson; Siblings, Walter Grethen and MaryLou (Loren) Thompson. Surviving in-laws include, Loren Thompson, Delores Grethen, Esther Hausman, Andy & Sally Hausman, Hilda & Cyril Schulte, Sally Stickrod, Don McCormick, Norma Schmidt, Virginia Hausman and Dorothy Irlmeier.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Millie in 2001, beloved daughter Jean Marie; dear siblings, James, Alice, Lillian, Caroline, Liberty, Leo and Leona and many cherished in-laws.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. Fr. Timothy Johnson will celebrate the funeral mass. Soloist will be John Wagner. Lectors will be Annie Bjustrom and Kathy Kraus. Gift Bearers will be Gene’s great grandchildren, Joseph and Katie Dawson. Casketbearers will be: Ron Hausman, Michael Smith, Jim Bohn, Jim Clark, Tom Thompson, and Abby Grethen. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carroll.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 where there will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service by Holy Spirit Parish at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, where visitation will resume until the start of the funeral mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences for Gene’s family may be left at www.sharpfuneral.com.
