Submitted by: Dan Rich

James Norman Grenert

Dec. 31, 1935 - Oct. 22, 2000

South Bend Tribune 10/24/2000

James Norman Grenert, 64, of Liberty Drive, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away following an illness at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22, in Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center. Mr. Grenert was born on Dec. 31, 1935, in South Bend, Ind., to the late Frank and Edna (Harkens) Grenert. He was also preceded in death by the following brothers and sisters, George, Frances, Andrew, Cecil, Margaret, Roy, Frank Jr. and Kenneth Grenert.

James and his wife, Rose (Singleton), were married on Jan. 6, 1957, in South Bend. He is survived by a brother, Robert of Gary, Ind.; and three sons, James Grenert, Michael (Kelly) Grenert and Robert (Peggy) Grenert; four daughters, Sue (Eugene) Yoder, all of Mishawaka, Debra (David) Skalla of Edwardsburg, Mich., Jennifer Pratt of South Bend and Sally (Chuck) Conrad of Dowagiac, Mich.; and by 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Jim was employed at Adams Westlake in Elkhart, Ind., where he enjoyed plating parts for 10 years. After being laid off he worked at small shops where he left his skills and trade to show others. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force in 1954. Jim was a member of the Mooseheart Association Lodge #58 in South Bend where he was employed eight years of his life. He was enjoyed by friends wherever he went. Jim worked hard all of his life and then encountered medical problems, but his sense of humor still remained. He enjoyed coaching and playing softball all of his life, even after not being able to play, he still enjoyed watching all sports. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame fan. Jim was a devoted family man and loved his wife Rose, and all his children, very deeply. He especially enjoyed playing with his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the McGann Funeral Home, University Area Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road, South Bend, with Rev. Warren Kirkwood, pastor of Outreach at Albright United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, Ind. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.