John "Custer" Grenz was born May 29, 1917, on the family farm in Campbell
County, near Artas, S.D., the son of Gottlieb and Christina (Wentz) Grenz.
Custer was 9 years old when the family moved to Napoleon, where he grew up.
Custer attended and graduated from Napoleon High School and went on to attend
Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1941.
Custer married Irene Wittmier on July 26, 1942, at Napoleon. They purchased and
moved to a homestead farm in the Streeter Flat area in 1943. In 1954, they moved
to Napoleon, where they operated a restaurant, Irene's Cafe, and he became known
as a "sidewalk" farmer. Custer continued to farm until he retired at the age of
65. Since 1978, they have made their winter home in Mesa, Ariz. Custer was
active in city affairs serving on the Napoleon City Council for several years.
He was selected as a Napoleon High School Alumni of the Year recipient in 1996.
He wrote articles for the Napoleon Homestead under the byline "Findings By John
G. 'Custer' Grenz." He was an avid antique collector over the years attending
most auctions in the tri-state area. He had a special interest in threshing
machines and his collection graced the hills three miles east of Napoleon for
many years, and they were featured in the March 1987 issue of National
Geographic Magazine and Dakota Day Trips. Custer still owned the first tractor
that he purchased, which was a 1943 model John Deere "B." He was an avid sports
athlete and fan, having participated in both basketball and track. He was proud
of the fact that his son and grandson also played basketball for Napoleon High
School.
He was preceded in death by one son, Gene Grenz, in 1962; his parents; two
brothers, Eugene and Albert; and three sisters, Ida Kiesz, Christine Hoen and
Elsie Meyer.
Courtesy - Truman Bratteli (#47361312)
County, near Artas, S.D., the son of Gottlieb and Christina (Wentz) Grenz.
Custer was 9 years old when the family moved to Napoleon, where he grew up.
Custer attended and graduated from Napoleon High School and went on to attend
Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1941.
Custer married Irene Wittmier on July 26, 1942, at Napoleon. They purchased and
moved to a homestead farm in the Streeter Flat area in 1943. In 1954, they moved
to Napoleon, where they operated a restaurant, Irene's Cafe, and he became known
as a "sidewalk" farmer. Custer continued to farm until he retired at the age of
65. Since 1978, they have made their winter home in Mesa, Ariz. Custer was
active in city affairs serving on the Napoleon City Council for several years.
He was selected as a Napoleon High School Alumni of the Year recipient in 1996.
He wrote articles for the Napoleon Homestead under the byline "Findings By John
G. 'Custer' Grenz." He was an avid antique collector over the years attending
most auctions in the tri-state area. He had a special interest in threshing
machines and his collection graced the hills three miles east of Napoleon for
many years, and they were featured in the March 1987 issue of National
Geographic Magazine and Dakota Day Trips. Custer still owned the first tractor
that he purchased, which was a 1943 model John Deere "B." He was an avid sports
athlete and fan, having participated in both basketball and track. He was proud
of the fact that his son and grandson also played basketball for Napoleon High
School.
He was preceded in death by one son, Gene Grenz, in 1962; his parents; two
brothers, Eugene and Albert; and three sisters, Ida Kiesz, Christine Hoen and
Elsie Meyer.
Courtesy - Truman Bratteli (#47361312)
John "Custer" Grenz was born May 29, 1917, on the family farm in Campbell
County, near Artas, S.D., the son of Gottlieb and Christina (Wentz) Grenz.
Custer was 9 years old when the family moved to Napoleon, where he grew up.
Custer attended and graduated from Napoleon High School and went on to attend
Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1941.
Custer married Irene Wittmier on July 26, 1942, at Napoleon. They purchased and
moved to a homestead farm in the Streeter Flat area in 1943. In 1954, they moved
to Napoleon, where they operated a restaurant, Irene's Cafe, and he became known
as a "sidewalk" farmer. Custer continued to farm until he retired at the age of
65. Since 1978, they have made their winter home in Mesa, Ariz. Custer was
active in city affairs serving on the Napoleon City Council for several years.
He was selected as a Napoleon High School Alumni of the Year recipient in 1996.
He wrote articles for the Napoleon Homestead under the byline "Findings By John
G. 'Custer' Grenz." He was an avid antique collector over the years attending
most auctions in the tri-state area. He had a special interest in threshing
machines and his collection graced the hills three miles east of Napoleon for
many years, and they were featured in the March 1987 issue of National
Geographic Magazine and Dakota Day Trips. Custer still owned the first tractor
that he purchased, which was a 1943 model John Deere "B." He was an avid sports
athlete and fan, having participated in both basketball and track. He was proud
of the fact that his son and grandson also played basketball for Napoleon High
School.
He was preceded in death by one son, Gene Grenz, in 1962; his parents; two
brothers, Eugene and Albert; and three sisters, Ida Kiesz, Christine Hoen and
Elsie Meyer.
Courtesy - Truman Bratteli (#47361312)
County, near Artas, S.D., the son of Gottlieb and Christina (Wentz) Grenz.
Custer was 9 years old when the family moved to Napoleon, where he grew up.
Custer attended and graduated from Napoleon High School and went on to attend
Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1941.
Custer married Irene Wittmier on July 26, 1942, at Napoleon. They purchased and
moved to a homestead farm in the Streeter Flat area in 1943. In 1954, they moved
to Napoleon, where they operated a restaurant, Irene's Cafe, and he became known
as a "sidewalk" farmer. Custer continued to farm until he retired at the age of
65. Since 1978, they have made their winter home in Mesa, Ariz. Custer was
active in city affairs serving on the Napoleon City Council for several years.
He was selected as a Napoleon High School Alumni of the Year recipient in 1996.
He wrote articles for the Napoleon Homestead under the byline "Findings By John
G. 'Custer' Grenz." He was an avid antique collector over the years attending
most auctions in the tri-state area. He had a special interest in threshing
machines and his collection graced the hills three miles east of Napoleon for
many years, and they were featured in the March 1987 issue of National
Geographic Magazine and Dakota Day Trips. Custer still owned the first tractor
that he purchased, which was a 1943 model John Deere "B." He was an avid sports
athlete and fan, having participated in both basketball and track. He was proud
of the fact that his son and grandson also played basketball for Napoleon High
School.
He was preceded in death by one son, Gene Grenz, in 1962; his parents; two
brothers, Eugene and Albert; and three sisters, Ida Kiesz, Christine Hoen and
Elsie Meyer.
Courtesy - Truman Bratteli (#47361312)
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