Jerry Dean Grieve, 75, died Thursday, 08 May 2014, in Life Care Roseau Manor, Roseau, Minnesota.
Jerry was born 31 March 1939, near Ada, Minnesota, the oldest of six children born to Ervin and Helen (Manning) Grieve. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Ada, where he also attended the local country school. On 19 April 1957, Jerry married Carol Minnie at the Green Meadow Lutheran Church in rural Ada. They eventually settled on a farm north of Twin Valley, Minnesota, where they raised their three children. After Carol's death in 1994, he continued to reside in their home until 2008, when he moved to Roseau to live with his son.
Over the years Jerry worked in variety of jobs, including farming, Twin Valley Co-Op, Ada Firestone Tire, truck driver, road construction, as well as operating his own dairy farm. While he enjoyed his various occupations, he spent the majority of his career either driving semi for both Twin City Freight and Harold Miller trucking, or working road construction--first for Ness Construction and then later Thorson Construction. Increased health issues forced him to retire from construction at the age of 62. Unfortunately, his health continued to decline, causing him to spend the last year and a half of his life in an assisted living facility in Roseau and finally at LifeCare Roseau Manor.
Jerry was a simple man who enjoyed doing his work efficiently and quietly, while doing his best to avoid a lot of attention. He was a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy; a stubborn German--and proud of it--with a good sense of humor. Whenever you traveled with him, you inevitably ended up driving on a road he had worked on or helped construct--which he was always quick to point out. He was proud of every road he worked on and gained a great sense of accomplishment over this.
Jerry had two great interests. First was his love of trucks. In his opinion, there were only two kinds of trucks worth driving--Fords or Macks--and everyone knew if you didn't agree with him you would inevitably end up in an argument you had little chance of winning. His second great interest was his great love for dogs, especially in his later years. His dogs gave him purpose--something to spoil and care for.
Jerry is survived by two daughters: Connie (Jack) Borowicz, Warroad, MN and Debby (Charlie) Halse, San Diego, CA; one son, Robert Grieve, Roseau, MN; two sisters, DeAnn (Mick) Larson, Gary, MN and Kitty (Perry) Ellingson, Borup, MN; two brothers Danny (Jenny) Grieve, Glyndon, MN and Steve (DeeDee) Grieve, Gary, MN; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carol, his daughter, Wendy, and his sister, Toots Goff.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, 13 May 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley MN. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the Anderson Family Funeral Home. Karie Kirschbaum will officiate with Harlan and Sylvia Bueng providing music. His pallbearers were Bryan Borowicz, Brad Borowicz, Nick Borowicz, Chris Halse, Matt Grieve, and Lowell Stevens. His honorary pallbearers were Amber Halse, Charlie Halse, Tommy Manning, Mike Dittmer and Penny Bonogofsky.
Interment was in the Green Meadow Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ada MN.