Theodore & Marie Gramenz

GRAMENZ WESTPHAL KOEPKE FIDELER HUOT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 19:22:00

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Theodore and Marie Gramenz
By Marie Gramenz

Theodore Ward Gramenz was born in Independence, Iowa, October 3, 1914; he died April 14, 1971. His hobbies were fishing, pool, and cards. He was the son of Robert F Gramenz, born in Coal Valley, Illinois, September 8, 1879, died May 9, 1946, and Emma Wilemenia Westphal, born in Buchanan County, Independence, Iowa, September 26, 1878, died September 4, 1951. They were married April 13, 1913. Robert was the son of Herman Gramenz born in West Prushen Germany, Posen County, December 2, 1848, died in Independence, Iowa, May 17, 1922. He married Minnie W Koepke, born in West Prushen Germany, August 22, 1940, died October 5, 1901. The date they came to the United States is unknown.

Emma was the daughter of Gotlieb Westphal of West Prushen Germany, born June 21, 1838, died November 29, 1914, and Wilhemina Fideler, born in West Prushen, Germany, July 22, 1943, died May 14, 1915.

Theodore attended a country school and Independence High School, and Married Marie Louise Huot, June 16, 1942, at Salix, Iowa. She was born September 13, 1907 and graduated form St Joseph’s High Schook, of Salix, 1926. She took a Normal Course, and Primary Course at Morningside College. She taught three years at the LaCroix and one year at the Glover School, both country schools. In 1933, she graduated from St Joseph’s Hospital school of Nursing, in Sioux City. After working in private duty in Sioux City, she worked in general in Los Angeles, California; Waverly, and Waterloo, Iowa. Starting October, 1966, she worked at Westwood Convalescent Home in Sioux City for ten years.

Theodore farmed the home place in Independence, Iowa, with his brother for seven years. They moved to Salix, February, 1949, and bough the John McCullough farm in 1953. Ted worked at the Sioux City Stockyards for twenty years and for Terra Chemical about one year.

Lawrence Gramenz, Theodore’s brother was born April 15, 1917, and died July 29, 1955.

A son, Francis Lee Gramenz, was born to Theodore and Marie in Independence, Iowa, December 5, 1944. He moved with his parents to Salix in 1949, and attends St Joseph’s School through the ninth grade. He graduated from Heelan High School, Sioux City, Iowa, in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Drake University in 1969, a Masters Degree in Music History, and one in Library Science and is a candidate for his Phd. In Music, all from Boston University. He is the head of the Music Department in Mugar Library of Boston University. He was church organist while attending school. On July 26, 1969, he married Sarah Jane Henn, of Evanston, Illinois. She has a Bachelor of Music Degree from Drake and a Masters form Boston University. She is employed at Massachusettes Institute of Technology, in Boston. They live in Newton Higlands, Massachusetts.

Theodre bought a home on Tipton Street, Salix, in 1949, from Vera Miltenberger. It was formerly owned by Pete LaCroix, and George Brouillette.