Edward J. Grittner

Edward J. Grittner, 84 year old resident of Pierz, MN, passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at the Pierz Villa in Pierz, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, February 22, 2007 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz, MN, with Rev. Gerald Dalseth officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery with military honors by the Pierz American Legion Post #341. Visitation will be from 4:00 a" 8:30 P.M. Wednesday, February 21st and 8:00 a" 10:00 A.M. Thursday, February 22nd at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz. There will be a Christian Mother's rosary at 4:30 P.M. at the funeral home on Wednesday followed by parish prayers at 6:30 P.M. and Knights of Columbus Office of the Dead at 7:30 P.M. Edward John Grittner was born on July 23, 1922 in Granite Township, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Frank & Martha (Meier) Grittner. He grew up on a farm and attended country school in Lastrup and Pierz. At the age of nine years, he moved with his family to a farm in Pierz Township near Buckman. He entered the U.S. Army on December 6, 1944 and was honorably discharged on November 19, 1946. Ed received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal Army of Occupation Japan. Ed was united in marriage to Elaine Block on November 27, 1946 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman, MN. The couple lived with Elaine's parents for one year and then purchased Ed's home farm where they lived and farmed for 31 years. From 1977 to 1988 they lived in Isle, MN, before moving to Pierz. In 2003, they moved to the Country Place Apartments in Pierz. Ed enjoyed farming, hunting, ice fishing, his Weimaraner dogs and gardening. He had a green thumb when it came to raising roses. Ed was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz and the Pierz American Legion Post #341. Ed is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Pierz; children, Charlene (Mike) Johnson of Columbia, SC, Dan (Pam) Grittner of Pierz, Jim (Ginger) Grittner of Pierz, Cindy (Gene) Epsky of Royalton, Pat (Ed) Baker of Mounds View, Donald (Linda) Grittner of Hillman, Mary (Mark) Kapsner of St. Cloud and Frank (Wendy) Grittner of Elk River; siblings, Henry Grittner of Scobey, MT and Lorraine (Lenny) Pohlkamp of Pierz; sisters-in-law, Regina Grittner of Royalton and Clare Grittner of St. Paul; 26 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Martha (Meier) Grittner and siblings, Christine Grittner, Evelyn Spence, Leo Grittner and Reinhard Grittner. Casket bearers will be Tom Grittner, Scot Grittner, Mike Epsky, Jeff Baker, Kevin Grittner and Brian Kapsner. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Pierz American Legion Post, #341.