Gerald Grambau

Gerald was born on February 28, 1923
to Otto and Dora (Dramburg) Grambau
at home in Metz, Michigan.

He passed away peaceful with is family near him on March 1, 2016, at the
home of his daughter Gwen in Sault Ste. Maric, just one day after his
93rd birthday. Gerald attended Metz schools through 8th grade and

High School in Rogers City. He was part of the graduating class of 1940.
Gerald was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church his entire life.
After graduation, Gerald worked on the family farm with his brother Earl,
Orchard Farms grew seed potatoes and they had a very good business,
When the call same for service in World War II, either Gerald or Earl had
to go. Gerald volunteered to be the one to go and served for 2 % years
spending time in Florida, St Louis, Missouri, and Iwo Jima, Japan. He
was in the Army Air Force working as a lineman and a communications
technician. When he returned from the war, he set his eyes on his beautiful
bride to be Beatrice Burzych. They were married on October 31, 1948 at
St. Dominic’s Rectory. They lived on the family farm 2 miles from Metz
and raised cows, pigs, chickens, as well as crops.

They were blessed with 5 children, Gerald (Suc) Grambau of Posen,
Gail (Bill) Ruby of Louisburg NC, Gwen (Don) Knapp of Sault Ste. Marie,
Glory (Mike) Kelderhouse of Sault Ste. Maric, and Gina
(who was stillborn).
He is also survived by 6 grandchildren Eric (Becky) Clancy of Coldwater,
MI, Craig (Susan) Grambau of Green Bay, Wisc, Phil (Amanda) Knapp of
L’ Anse, MI, Christy (Dave) Wilson of North Pole, Alaska.
Cory Hentkowski of Hawks, Niki (Ty) Jensen of Utah.

He was blessed with fifteen Great Grand Children Luke and Grace Clancy,
Abigail and Isaac Grambau, Samson, Deborah, Nathan, Amelia, and
Juliet Knapp, and Seth, Paul and Hanna Wilson, Jude, Lennon and
Ainsley Jensen,
After a barn fire in 1958, Gerald went to work for United States Steel
Calcite Plant in Rogers City. He started as a general laborer, then carned
his electrician certification via correspondence courses and became an
electrician, Later he moved into management working for Vessel Repair
for the Great Lakes Ships that came in and out of the port of Calcite. He
worked there for 32 years before he retired in 1985.

Gerald was an avid deer hunter, harvesting many deer in his lifetime. He
enjoyed the outdoors and often hunted with Beatrice at his side, He took
up golf in his later years and by study and practice became very good at it,
He played at Rogers City Country Club with life-long friends early each
Wednesday morning in the summer.He and Beatrice joined the square
dance club in Rogers city and Gerald and Bea served as president for
about 10 years. They traveled to many other clubs around the area to
dance, They marched in parades and made many square dance floats to
ride in the Nautical City Parade.

Gerald was a very service oriented person. He helped start the Metz School
in the early 1960’s and was school board president until its consolidation
with Rogers City. He later served on the Rogers City School Board of
Education for 20 years, president 10 of those years. He was able to hand
diplomas to his own children at their graduations from high school.

He also served on the Presque Isle County Library Board for 24 years,
many of those as president. He had a head for figures and also a calm
demeanor to handle crisis and solve problems.

Spitzer was a game he played from the time he was very young, He was
president of the Presque Isle County Spitzer League for 50 years and
served as secretary treasurer for many of those years, He was well
respected by the players and whenever they needed to know a rule of
Spitzer they would go to him, He was Mr. Spitzer in Presque Isle County.
Tradition was important to him as well, He kept the Baumkucken baking
for many years. This is a German wedding or anniversary cake that is
made over an open fire. The form used for the cake was handmade by
his Grand Father Julius Dramburg a carpenter.

He was somewhat of a local historian and was asked to be the featured
speaker at the 100th anniversary of the Metz Fire, This was a disaster that
burned the town of Metz in 1908, Gerald always had a green thumb, he
gardened while he worked at Calcite, but after retirement he raised roses,
and many other flowers as well as a huge vegetable garden. He and
Beatrice would freeze and can for many wecks in late summer and early
fall. Being children of the depression, you never wasted anything. It was
a standard he lived by.

Gerald was an avid Tigers Fan, he watched them religiously even when
they lost. He made many trips to games in Detroit. The highlight for him
was to get to go to Comerica Park and watch the Tigers live. He was also
a Lion fan and stuck with them through thick and thin,

In their later years, you could see Gerald and Beatrice riding around their
estate on their golf cart. They would visit neighbors or just see what was
going on in the fields. They spent lots of time together and were more in
love after 61 years of marriage than any two could be. Gerald took care of
Beatrice in her last years after she suffered a stroke.

The most important thing in Gerald’s life was his faith in God, He taught
Sunday school at St. Peter Lutheran Church for 26 years following in his
fathers and mothers steps. He was President of the congregation for many
years and when he talked people listened. He had wisdom about things and
the knowledge he shared was usually well thought out and solved many
problems, At the end of his life, he read the Bible several times a day by
his desk with a large print Bible and a magnifying glass. He prayed many
hours for all kinds of different things. He was ready to go to Heaven

and meet His Heavenly Father. When asked what he thought the talent

was that he got from God he replied without hesitation, teaching others
about Christ. His faith ran deep and he lived what he believed. He could
fix anything and would help anyone who needed it, He attended Donaldson
Presbyterian Church with his Daughter and son-in-law the last 4 years of
his life.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Dora Grambau,
his wife, Beatrice Burzych Grambau, brother Earl, and sister Viola,
his granddaughter Heather Clancy and his great grandson Abraham Clancy.

Friends may visit at the Beck Funeral Home on Friday from 3:00 until
8:00 p.m. with prayer service at 7:00 p.m, Visitation will resume at

St. Peter Lutheran Church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m, through time of
service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jeff Ryan officiating. Posen VFW Post
7804 will conduct Military Honors during graveside services on Saturday,

Memorials may be given to St. Peter Lutheran Church
in memory of Gerald Grambau.