Richard E. "Drawbar" Grell 1940-2011

GRELL WHYTE HENDERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 6/20/2011 at 22:36:43

Sioux City Journal
28 May 2011

CUSHING, Iowa -- Richard E. "Drawbar" Grell, 71, of Worland, Wyo., formerly of Cushing, died Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Washakie Medical Center in Worland following esophageal cancer.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at United Methodist Church in Worland, with the Rev. Huston Green officiating. Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday in Cushing Memorial Cemetery, with the Rev. Sheryl Ashley officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Bryant Funeral Home in Worland and Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home in Cushing. Online condolences may be posted at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.net.

Drawbar was born March 31, 1940, in Cushing, the son of Edmund and Gwen (Whyte) Grell. He grew up in Cushing, graduating from Cushing Consolidated High School in 1958. He attended Augustana College for two years. Drawbar worked for the Soil Conservation District in Lincoln County, S.D., for a few years.

He married Sally Henderson on June 4, 1961, in Cushing. He opened Grell Dirt Construction in 1962 and they made their home in Canton, S.D. In 1971 they moved to Cushing where he continued his construction business and worked on the family farm.

The family moved to Worland in 2001 where Drawbar continued to work his construction business.

His hobbies included collecting antique tractors, playing cards (euchre), drinking coffee with friends in the morning and solving the problems of the world. Most of all, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Sally of Worland; daughters, Susan (Randy) Bean of Battle Creek, Iowa, Kimberly (Clay) Keleher of Remsen, Iowa, Jill Howard of Cushing and Lisa (Steve) Gregg of Correctionville, Iowa; brothers, Martin (Jane) Grell of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Conrad (Judy) Grell of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Michael Clarkson, Shawna Schlenger, Ben Rabbas, Alex Rabbass, Ashley Rabbass, Sara Howard and Sam Ashley; and three great-grandchildren, Payton Rabbass, Braelynn Schlenger and Paige Schlenger.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a great-grandson.

Memorials may be made to Eagles Lodge 3096, in care of Bryant Funeral Home PO Box 524 Worland, WY 82401.