Date of Birth
Apr 15,1914
Date of Death
Apr 12,2004
VERNER B. GRANQUISTAge 89 of St. Charles, passed away peacefully, Monday morning, April 12, 2004, at the Rosewood Care Center, St. Charles after a long battle with emphysema. Verner was born April 15, 1914, one week after his parents came to this country from Sweden. The story of his life was poignantly chronicled in a handwritten history of nearly one hundred pages, condensed here for family and friends. At the age of ten, Verner’s mother died following surgery. His father, though a skilled craftsman, was compelled to sell their home, auction their belongings and place his two children in a Joliet orphanage. Four weeks later Verner’s father was killed in a streetcar accident. Shortly afterward his sister was taken home by relatives but it would be 4 years before Verner was old enough to be hired out during harvest as farm help. A kind couple kept him on after the corn was in and he stayed there for the next two years.On Dec. 30, 1933, he was united in marriage to his first wife, Edna _______ . Together, they went to work for thirty-five dollars a month plus a place to live. Four years later, they moved on to better times, managing two St. Charles area farms. They moved to Huntley for several years and farmed on shares for eleven years before purchasing their own farm in 1954 on LaFox Rd. Two years later, Vern was widowed when Edna died suddenly of a heart attack. In _____ he was united in marriage to Pauline Peterson and they continued to make their home on the family farm near LaFox, IL In later years, Verner enjoyed driving a school bus for District 303, St. Charles, from 1975 to 1984. Throughout the pages of his history, Verner writes simply and directly of the joys and sorrows of farming; of loving and losing both family and fields; of questioning God yet trusting His leading. Verner closes his account with these words: …. (But I) found out that deep sores do heal with the help of loved ones and good friends. SURVIVORSHe is survived by his wife, Pauline of St. Charles, IL;Two sons, David and Richard, and one step-daughter, Marion Johnson who, together with their families, account for seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and five great grandchildren:David (Marjorie) Granquist of Wasco, IL and their family: Michael (Jennifer) Granquist of St. Charles, ILAnd their family: DustinMark (Kathryn) Granquist of Geneva, ILAnd their family Christopher and MatthewRichard (Gloria) Wagner-Granquist of DeKalb, ILAnd their family:Angela (Darius) Sarhadi of Mesa, AZAnd their family: Katie and KyleRichard (Maria) Granquist of Bloomington, INAndrew (Yvonne) Granquist of LaCrosse, WISara Granquist of Sycamore, ILKevin Granquist, also of Sycamore. )one step-daughter, Marian Johnson of St. Charles, ILthree step-grandchildren: Gail, Debbie and Jeff. One sister, Dorothy Tornberg of St. Charles, ILAnd several nieces and nephews. PRECEDEDHe is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Edna.MEMORIALSMemorials in his name may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church, Lily Lake, IL and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119.
VISITATION - FUNERALVerners’s visitation and funeral will be held on his ninetieth birthday, Thursday morning, April 15, 2004, from 10-11am at Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., Lily Lake where Verner was a member for many years. His funeral service will be held at 11am with the Rev. Ernst Rex officiating.
Committal services scheduled for 2:30pm at the West Batavia Cemetery, Rt. 31, Batavia, IL.