Vernon Grinde

Services for Vernon Grinde, 94, of Tracy will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Almlie-Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The Almlie-Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is caring for the family. He died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Vernon Earl Grinde was born on February 29, 1920 in Slayton, MN to Ole and Inga (Furan) Grinde. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Modum Lutheran Church near Lake Sarah. He grew up on a farm along the shores of Lake Shetek and attended rural school often traveling to school on horseback. Vernon and his sister Doris (Onken) stayed in a rooming house in Tracy in order to attend and graduate high school. Vernon graduated from Tracy High School in 1938 and went on to college in Mankato to obtain his teaching degree. He began teaching in rural schools near Tracy until he was called to serve in the Army Medical Corp for World War II. He served for three years, mostly in England and France. During the return voyage to the United States, his ship (Athos) was caught in a hurricane and it was reported to his parents that Vernon was missing at sea. Several days later he was able to send a telegram from the Azore Islands that he was alive and well. Following a ride home on the USS Enterprise he was discharged from the Army and returned to teaching. He taught all grades at Garvin and Amiret schools, and then 5th and 6th grade in Tracy. In October 1946 Vernon married Ruth Bondhus at Amo Lutheran Church in Storden, MN. They made their home in Tracy and to this union a daughter and two sons were born. Katherine (Rick Parkin) of Bellevue, WA; Todd (Patti) Grinde of Brooklyn Park, MN; and Lee Grinde of Westbrook, MN. Five grandchildren: Andy (Jennifer) Grinde of Mound, MN; Katie (Robb) Johnson of Hinckley, MN; Jason (Sharon) Parkin of Newcastle, WA; Erik Parkin and Kristen Parkin of Bellevue, WA. Four great-grandchildren: Lauren and Drew Grinde, Landen Johnson, and Cora Parkin. Vernon and Ruth shared almost 32 years of marriage before Ruth's death in 1978. In December 1980 Vernon married Doris Maas at Tracy Lutheran Church. They made their home in Tracy and with this union Vernon gained Doris' three children. Chuck (Theresa) Maas of Sartell, MN; Kevin (Madonna) Maas of Sartell, MN; and Becky (Jim) Girard of Maple Grove, MN. Six grandchildren: Kelsey Maas; Erik, Melissa, and Bridget Maas; and Paul and Jenna Girard. During Vernon's early years of teaching in Tracy he continued college through summer classes to obtain his Masters Degree in Education Administration and became the Elementary Principal. During his time as Principal, Vernon was very active in M.E.A., N.E.A, MN Principals Association, National Association of Elementary Principals, and various committees for the State Board of Education. In the early 1960s, he helped pioneer public education for the learning disabled, and taught summer sessions at Westmar College to help establish a curriculum for new teachers in that field. Vernon endured two years of make shift classrooms in temporary structures and churches following the destruction of the elementary school during the 1968 Tornado. He was instrumental in the contemporary design and construction of the current Tracy Elementary school. During his many years of teaching in Tracy, Vernon saw multiple generations of families pass through his classrooms. He knew and remembered every one of them. Following his retirement in 1983 Vernon was asked to fill in for Administrators in five different surrounding communities due to illness or death of their Administrator; some for a few months and some for the entire school year. Vernon also assisted at St Mary's School in Tracy. For many years, Vernon and his brother, Olando (Ole) Grinde, assisted John and Steve Almlie with funerals. Between the two brothers, they knew most everyone in the area and enjoyed helping the families. Most people remember Vernon in a suit and tie. Vernon was very active in community service and civic organizations: Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Labor Day Parade, Prime Timers, Meals on Wheels, Laura Ingalls Pageant and many advisory boards and committees. He was named Outstanding Citizen of Tracy, and served as Lieutenant Governor for Kiwanis. He received several lifetime achievement awards. He was a long time active member of Tracy Lutheran Church serving several terms as congregational president, many years as Sunday School superintendent and many committees. Vernon died on Monday, January 5th, 2015 at Prairie View Health Care. He was preceded in death by his parents Ole and Inga Grinde; two brothers and four sisters and their spouses: Olando and Joyce Grinde, Lloyd and Cora Mae Grinde, Bertha and Roland DeMong, Jose and Everret Swenson, Rose and George Reiter, Doris and Delbert Onken; his wife Ruth (Bondhus) Grinde; and Chuck Maas. His children are very proud of their father's life, and will miss him.