Lewis John Grebin, age 87, went home to be with his God on February 15, 2025, at Chosen Valley Care Center, with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Preston, Minn., on June 4, 1937, at the Maternity Hospital on Chatfield Avenue to Lewis W. and Gladys A. (Hendershott) Grebin. His first four years were spent in Preston, then his family moved to Austin, Minn., when his dad got a job at the Hormel Plant. Lewis attended Queen of Angels Grade School, and graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1955. His school years were memorable, especially with his love for and athletic ability on the football field. He was an amazing passing back and lettered in 1954 and 1955. In 1955, he was selected for the Minnesota Catholic All State Football Award. After graduation, Lewis worked for Dan Reisinger, a tree surgeon in Austin and learned valuable skills about tree service, which served him well in the future when Dutch elm disease struck the area.
On December 27, 1955, Lewis married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Patricia Feeley. They have been devoted partners for over 69 years. In September 1956, his friend and mentor Dan got him a job at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He worked at the Austin office for 10 years and then moved his family to Preston when a position opened in 1966. He retired after 36 years of dedicated service to the phone company.
Lewis served his community as a faithful member of St. Columban Catholic Church, serving on the parish council for several years; a board member of the Fillmore County History Center in Fountain, Minn., for many years, and he was a longtime member of the Carimona Cemetery Board of Directors and Trustee.
His pastimes and hobbies included slow pitch softball, bowling, hunting, woodworking, horseshoes, and beating everyone who ever attempted to play against him in bags. He enjoyed camping with his family along the Mississippi River at Brownsville, Minn., and many adventures in his beloved remolded 1948 Greyhound Bus.
Lewis and Patricia spent 13 winters in Weslaco, Tex., where they enjoyed many activities and spent wonderful times with many new and good friends.
They sold their home and moved into Traditions of Preston in August 2024 and Lewis moved into Chosen Valley in February 2025. We would like to thank the staff of both facilities for the loving care and concern of our loved one. We are grateful to Moments Hospice for their devotion to Lewis for the past nine months and Interim Hospice during his time at Chosen Valley. We are eternally grateful to all who were involved in his care.
A celebration of life Mass will be held at St. Columban Church in Preston, Minn., on February 22, 2025, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held one hour before Mass. Lewis’ body was donated to Mayo Medical School and he will be interred at a later time.
Lewis was a loving husband, wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He cherished spending time with family, and is survived by his wife Pat, and children Mary Jo Grebin (Don Hardy), Montfort, Wis.; Jeanne Grebin, Preston; Anne Knoepke, Preston; Lewis (Jayanthi) Grebin, Burnsville; Ruth Grebin (Jeff Strahl) Preston; Joanne (John) Szuch, Preston; grandchildren Kate Grebin, Dubuque, Iowa; Patricia (Dave) Jensen, Rochester; Amanda (Harold) Gillmore, La Crosse, Wis.; Joseph Grebin (Cassie Richardson), Pine Island; Adam (Jamie) Knoepke, Chatfield; Benjamin (Sara) Knoepke, Brainard; Jessica (Joe) Sheridan, Columbia, Md.; Indra Grebin, Burnsville; Asha Grebin (Mike Johnson) Rochester; Zachary (Brittany) Wilcox, Dodge Center; Sarah (Steve) Tripp, Hollis Center, Mass.; Lucas Szuch (Faith Hagan), Rio Rancho, N.M.; Stephanie Szuch (Gregory Foster) Ashville, N.C.; and Louis Foster, Asheville, N.C.; great-grandchildren: Alysia, Abigail and Isaac Jensen, Rochester; Erin Knoepke, Minneapolis; Caden, Carson, and Taylor Knoepke, Chatfield; Lily, Alison and Sam Knoepke, Brainard; Grace and William Sheridan, Columbia, Md.; Alex and Emily Wilcox, Dodge Center; Mira Jane Tripp, Hollis Center, Maine; and sons-in-law Steve Knoepke and Mike McGarvey. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth Gallentine of Minneapolis and Patricia Finley of Alma, Wis., and many nieces and nephews. Lewis had a special bond with nephews Bob, Rick and Larry Grebin.
Preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Gladys, infant daughter Susan Marie, brother Robert and Rose Grebin, brothers-in-law Ray Gallentine and Dave Finley, nephew Lee Grebin, and niece Laura Grebin.
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