Cover photo for Ronald Grefe's Obituary
Ronald Grefe Profile Photo

Ronald Grefe

August 7, 1951 — November 22, 2019

Ronald Grefe

Ronald O. Grefe, age 68, of Parkers Prairie, died Friday, November 22, 2019, at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 2, 2019, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie with Rev. Kirk Lee officiating. Music is provided by organist, Maureen Diedrich. Interment will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Ottertail.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Ronald Orville was born on August 7, 1951, to Orville and Margaret (Cloeter) Grefe in Wadena. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ottertail. Ron attended Parochial School at St. John’s Lutheran Church through the eighth grade and graduated from Henning High School in 1969. He continued his education at Concordia College in St. Paul for two years. Ron took a year off from school and moved to Morris to work at Lampert Lumber. The following year he continued to work part time while continuing his education at the University of Minnesota, Morris. In 1977, Ron’s career with Lampert’s Lumber took him to Wahpeton, North Dakota where he was the manager. While living in Wahpeton, he met Cher Johnson and they were united in marriage in 1980. Ron, Cher and their son, Sean moved to Parkers Prairie and Ron managed the local Lampert’s Lumber until 1984, when he purchased it. He renamed the lumber yard Prairie Lumber and owned and operated it until 1992. Ron worked the next seven years at Wadena Sawmills until he moved to Willmar to work for United Building Centers (UBC). He continued to work in the Lumber Industry around Willmar for the next several years until his retirement. Ron always felt at home in Parkers Prairie and moved back there in 2019. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he was the church secretary and served on church council and the financial board. Ron was active in the Parkers Prairie Fire Department for 17 years and served as chief for three. He was also a member of the Parkers Prairie Lion’s Club and taught gun safety training. Ron was an excellent wood worker and built furniture for his family, rolltop desks and his grandson’s cradles and cribs. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Most of all, Ron loved spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Orville Grefe.

Ron is survived by his son, Sean (Jill) Grefe of Cold Spring; two grandsons, Maison Grefe and Zavier Grefe; mother, Margaret Grefe of Ottertail; brother, Dick (Denise) Grefe of Ottertail; five sisters, Karen (Mike Lee) Grefe of Tumwater, Washington, Judy (Daryl) Zeise of Deer Creek, Brenda (Terry) Grewe of Battle Lake, Janet Grefe of Fargo, North Dakota and Vicki (Doug) Anderson of Henning; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Urnbearers are his grandsons, Maison and Zavier

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ronald Grefe, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, December 2, 2019

9:30 - 10:30 am (Central time)

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Memorial Service

Monday, December 2, 2019

Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)

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Interment

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Otter Tail

31963 Co Hwy 61, Ottertail, MN 56571

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