Grau, Arnold "Arnie" I. (1942-2012)
GRAU, IVERSEN, BLOK, LAUBE, HOLTROP, MORENZ
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/29/2012 at 11:01:21
Arnold I. Grau
February 22, 1942 - January 15, 2012Newell, Iowa
Arnold "Arnie" I. Grau, age 69, of Newell, Iowa, died January 15, 2012, at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Arnold Ivan Grau was born February 22, 1942, in Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Ivan and Ruth (Iversen) Grau. He was baptized on April 12, 1942, at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell where he was later confirmed in 1956.
Growing up, Arnie attended school in Newell, graduating from Newell High School in 1960. Following high school graduation, he furthered his education at Iowa State University, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education.
On December 2, 1967, Arnie married Karen Blok at the Presbyterian Church in Sanborn, Iowa. They were blessed with two children: Julie and Gordon.
A member of the Beta Sigma Psi Fraternity, Arnie was also a fourth generation, lifelong member of the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. Every Christmas Eve, he served as lector. He also served as a chairman of the church board, a member of the church choir, an usher, an assistant worship leader, and a youth leader as well as a member of many other committees. In addition, he served on the Newell Providence School Board.
A lifelong farmer, Arnie thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of agriculture. Most of all, however, he liked working with livestock, especially with his cows. He thought of them as his pride and joy. A member of the Pork Producers Association, the Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Salers Association, Arnie was recognized in 1989 as an Iowa Master Farmer.
Arnie was an avid Iowa State Cyclone Fan. He enjoyed watching sporting events, especially his grandchildren’s activities. In his spare time, Arnie had a passion for collecting ink pens. He loved music and dancing, especially polka music and Danish folk dances. Arnie treasured spending time with his family and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of forty-four years, Karen Grau, of Newell, Iowa; his children: Julie (Keith) Laube, of Newton, Iowa, and Gordon (Shannon) Grau, also of Newell, Iowa; his grandchildren: Jolisa Laube, of Mohave Valley, Arizona, Christian and Amanda Laube, of Newton, Iowa, as well as Carli, Lindsay, and Kyle Grau, of Newell, Iowa; his brother, Gerald (Brenda) Grau, of Lafayette, Louisiana; his sisters-in-law: Glenda (Lee) Holtrop, of Fulda, Minnesota, and Roberta (Leroy) Morenz, of Newell, Iowa; and his brother-in-law, Leonard (LaVonne) Blok, of Sacramento, California; as well as several nieces and nephews; extended family and many friends.
Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Ruth Grau; his parents-in-law; his grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.
Visitation: 3:00-8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00-8:00 p.m., January 18, 2012, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., January 19, 2012, at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa.
Interment: January 19, 2012, at the Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa.Copyright © 2012, Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
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