Freddie Matthew Grell 1927-2012

GRELL CARSTENS KENNALEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/26/2012 at 17:12:48

Sioux City Journal
April 09, 2012

DANBURY, Iowa -- Freddie M. "Pop" Grell, 85, of Danbury entered eternal rest on April 7, 2012, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa, surrounded by the family he so dearly loved.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, Iowa, with the Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial will be in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery, with military graveside honors provided by the American Legion Carlson-Frum Post 336 of Danbury. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today, with a vigil wake service at 7 p.m., at the church. Visitation will resume 9 a.m. to service time Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton and Danbury. Online condolences can be left for the family at armstrongfuneral.com.

Freddie Matthew Grell was born Feb. 16, 1927, at Boyer, Iowa, one of eight children to Mathew and Alvina (Carstens) Grell. Soon thereafter, the family moved to the Mapleton area. After the death of his father, when Freddie was just in his teens, he became responsible for the family farming operation, a challenge in which he proved himself successful.

During those same years, he started driving truck for Reinbold Trucking in Mapleton, the beginning of a lifelong career. At 21, he bought his first truck and took over Grell Trucking from his brother, Arnold. Though he was in competition with multiple other trucking firms at the time, Freddie continued to expand his business over a period of 62 years. He always said that he got to live his dream by trucking. He did not only local hauling but many interstate loads as well and felt appreciative of the multiple loyal drivers who worked for him over the many years and his faithful customers.

His family also worked in the business with his wife, Evonne, serving as his dispatcher. He was proud to say that he never had an accident in the thousands and thousands of miles he was on the road. He always gave his best to every job he took on and would donate his time and trucks to help people move and haul 4-H livestock to the fairgrounds. In later years, Freddie enjoyed working at Terra and for various farmers, still trucking.

On May 24, 1950, Freddie was united in marriage to Evonne Kennaley at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Danbury. The couple lived in Danbury, where they raised their children. Freddie served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea from August 1952 to July 1954.

He was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, where he also worked mowing the church and school yards for over 20 years. He was a member of the American Legion Carlson-Frum Post 336 of Danbury. Freddie loved go to carnivals and county fairs as well as raise a huge garden every year. The family would combine business with pleasure by visiting attractions while on the road. They spent summers in their trailer and camper in Okoboji, where Freddie could get away from the phone for a short time, enjoy his family, and relax his body and spirit.

Those survivors left to smile as they recall their memories of Freddie include Evonne, his wife of 62 years; two daughters, Dolly Varner and her husband, Dan of Sioux City, and Anne Carlson of Ida Grove, Iowa; two sons, Tom Grell of Spencer, Iowa, and Jamey Grell and his wife, Anna of Danbury; a special granddaughter who they raised, Angie Watkins and her husband, Neal of Ida Grove, Iowa; one sister, Betty Paulsen of Denison, Iowa; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews; good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jerry Grell; one brother, Arnold "A.J." Grell; and five sisters, Marie, Edna, Jeanette, Dorothy and Emma.