Duane Grell, age 86, of Cambridge died April 8, 2013 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, April 12th at Cambridge Lutheran Church with Rev. David Everett officiating. A visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery near Rush Lake with Military Honors by the Cambridge American Legion.
Duane Edward Grell was born January 30, 1927 in Braham, Minnesota to Fred and Frieda (Gutzkow) Grell. He attended the one room Danewood School near Braham. As a child he enjoyed playing tag and catch the ball and his dog “Bowzer.” Duane served his country in the US Army as a paratrooper in WWII. After his service he met Esther Ekness in St. Paul and they were married March 2, 1946. They made their home in St. Paul until 1959 when they moved to Stanchfield. They later lived in Braham and Grandy before moving to Pine Village over 20 years ago.
He worked at the Arsenal in Shoreview and then at Cambridge State Hospital until his retirement. Duane also had an 80 acre farm and he loved his many years of being a school bus driver. He loved fishing especially at the Waukenabo Resort where their family vacationed every summer, playing cards and making crafts. Duane made several clocks and gave many of them to his family and friends. He also enjoyed traveling and he and Esther visited almost all the states and they wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona. Duane and Esther also had a band “Lil Country Band” with Tony Nienow. Duane was also a long time member of Cambridge Lutheran Church.
Duane E. Grell died April 8, 2013 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 9 days. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, two brothers, Wesley and Eugene; and by grandson, Jason Grell.
Duane will be lovingly remembered by his six children, Gary (Judy) Grell of Cambridge, Steve (Robin) Grell of Cambridge, David (Paula) Grell of Mountain View, Missouri, Sue (Paul) Hupfer of Cambridge, Gerald (Kathi) Grell of Cambridge and Gail (Brian) Kling of Cambridge; by 18 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two on the way; nine siblings, Gordon (Debbie) Grell of Braham, Lucille Fredin of Braham, Kenneth (Bethie) Grell of McGregor, Janice Ziesmer of Stanchfield, Charles (Ellie) Grell of Braham, Mary Ann (Joseph) Davis of Stanchfield, Katherine (Tom) Pearson of Braham, Melvin (Kendall) Grell of Stanchfield, and Sandra (Ross) Davis of Stanchfield; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Grell of North Branch and Ginger Grell of Isanti; and by many other relatives and friends.