A Celebration of Life Services for Leslie “Les” Grev, 79, of Odin, Minnesota, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, January 26, 2017, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Odin, with Pastor Carla Reierson officiating.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at Kramer Family Funeral Home in Trimont, Minnesota. The funeral home is located at 71 2nd Avenue S. E. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday.
Messages of Sympathy can be sent online to the family at: www.kramerfuneralhome.com.
Burial will be in the church cemetery with full military honors by the Donald V. Larson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9607 of Butterfield, Minnesota and the Foster-Bernhardt American Legion Post #373 of Trimont.
Les Grev passed away on Friday afternoon, January 20, 2017, at his home in Odin.
Leslie “Les” Norman Grev was born on May 13, 1937, the son of Knute Melvin and Ethel Carrie (Clipperton) Grev. He was raised in rural Odin where he attended District #71 school. He was a 1955 graduate of Triumph-Monterey High School. Les served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1963 in Germany and the United States, and worked in the Motor Pool until his honorable discharge. Upon his return, he was employed by Ronnie Anderson on his farm before attending Dunwoody Institute to become an auto mechanic.
In 1960, he was united in marriage to Pearl Marlene Diekmann at Trinity Lutheran Church in Welcome, Minnesota. During their 56 years of marriage, they moved 12 times and were blessed with five children. They lived in Blue Earth, where Les worked as a farmer and a mechanic at Hi-Way Motors and Blue Earth Tire from 1961 until 1981. He then fulfilled his dreams of farming the Grev land – his first love – and opening his own private business, Grev’s Garage in Trimont, from 1981 until retirement.
Les was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Odin where he served on the Church Council as President and in other capacities. He also served on its Cemetery Board, mentored Confirmation students, and was a Lay Minister for St. Olaf and area churches.
Les appreciated this country and respected our military and their families, serving others as a member of the Honor Guard for the Donald V. Larson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9607 of Butterfield. He belonged to the Jaycees, was active in 4-H, was a snowmobile safety instructor and baseball coach, and served on the Odin City Council. He also belonged to the Sons of Norway, enjoyed square dancing and bowling, loved to travel, and had fun playing many, many card games.
He lived and shared his faith at home and with others.
Les is survived by his wife, Pearl Grev of Odin, Minnesota; his five children: daughter, Gloria Grev of Las Vegas, Nevada, Bill and Tami Grev of St. James, Minnesota, Loren and Chris Grev of Rochester, Minnesota, David and Kendra Grev of rural Odin, Minnesota, and Carrie Grev of Manila, Philippines; thirteen grandchildren: Rebecca, Katherine and Wayne, Thomas and Alicia with great-granddaughter Skylar, Amanda, Nathaniel, Jessica, Katelyn, Kaleb and Candra, Joshua, Benjamin, Samuel, Isaac, and Jacob; his siblings, Donna Wise of Prior Lake, Dennis (Elaine) Grev of Columbia, MO, Julian Grev of Aitkin, Kathryn Carlblom of League City, TX, Frances Valley of Port Orchard, WA, Conrad (Kathryn) Grev of Maple Grove, and Lowell (Ann) Grev of Oakland, MO; sisters-in-law, Katie Grev of Blue Earth, Yvonne Krumwiede of Trimont, and Clarine (Loren) Weiss-Glidden of Sherburn, Minnesota; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Les was preceded in death by his parents, and father and mother-in-law, Otto and Anna Diekmann; brother, Bruce Grev; brothers-in-law, Dwayne Wise, Arlen Carlblom, Cleo Krumwiede, Glenn Weiss, Walter Diekmann; sisters-in-law, Judy Grev and Joan Diekmann; and nieces Janice Grev and Flori Carlblom.