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In Memoriam

Louis Henry Grettenberger - Class Of 1912

Louis Henry Grettenberger, son of Johann Christian "John" (1843-1923) and Maria Catherina Louisa (Hoag) (1857-1918) Grettenberger, was born 25 November 1895 Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.  Louis graduated in 1912 from Okemos High School and in 1914 from Mason High School.  Okemos only went to what is known as 10th grade level during that era.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 11 June 1912

The Okemos schools have just closed a very successful year.

Sunday evening June 2, the baccalaureate sermon was preached by Rev. Ralph Harry, pastor of the Baptist church.  Thursday afternoon a public exhibition of marches, songs and recitations was given by the intermediate department under the direction of R. M. Hardy.  The program was highly appreciated by all who heard it.  Friday evening, June 7, the regular graduating exercises were held at the Methodist church.  The speaker of the evening was Prof. Pierce of the Ypsilanti Normal college.  His address was very well received.  Two class orations, "The New Country School," by LeRoy Moore, and "Annexation of Canada," by Louis Grettenberger, showed careful preparation and study.  Other members of the class appeared in musical selections and readings.  Music was also furnished by the M. A. C. Glee club quartet.  The graduates were: Gertrude B. Hudson, Marion J. Deeg, Electra B. Seipp, Louis H. Grettenberger and LeRoy E. Moore.  Monday even a reception was tendered to the graduating class by the class of 1913 at the home of J. O. Grettenberger.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 19 June 1914

MASON GRADUATES ARE ADDRESSED BY REV. H. C. WILSON

Mason, June 19 - Promptly at 8 o'clock Thursday evening to the strains of a march played by Mrs. F. G. Ellett, the class of 1914 of the high school filed into the Presbyterian church for the commencement exercise.  The church was daintily decorated with marguerites and ferns, a hedge of them adorning the front of the platform.  The building was filled to overflowing with relatives and interest friends of the 28 graduates.  After the invocation by Rev. G. D. Sherman, a violin and flute duet, "Dream of the Tyrolienne," was well rendered by Naomi Whited and Roy Adams with Mrs. Ellett as accompanist.

Supt. W. D. Riggs then introduced Rev. Horace Cady Wilson of Lansing as the speaker of the evening.

"This is our day in the court of human affairs," he said, "the climax of all that is past.  We are the heirs of all the ages.   It is the greatest of opportunities merely to live in this age.  Success or failure lies in our use of the gifts which nature has granted us to fit us for our share of the world's work."

Fred Killeen of Lansing sang, "I Hear you Calling Me," which was highly appreciated by the audience.

Charles Hemans, president of the senior class, presented the class cup to the juniors, and Ruth Grow, their president accepted it in the name of the class.  J. N. Thornburn, president of the school board, then presented the diplomas.  Rev. G. D. Sherman pronounced the benediction.  An impromptu reception followed.

The names of those receiving diplomas are Charles F. Hemans, Ruby M. Collins, Henry R. Adams, Ina M. Bolster, Paul E. Coy, Elsie M. Taylor, Bertha Folerz, Raph G. Strope, Mildred R. Bellamy, Irene Beaumont, Louis Grettenberger, Alice Gunn, Emily J. Sayre, Hallie Harkness, Julia M. Cook Martha W. Thayer, Horace Hall, Bernice Bateman, Irene A. Burgess, Jay T. Thornburn, Zola M. Otis, Gladys Lasenby, Ross Doolittle, Dora Welch, Harris Hemans, Bessie J. Hayner, Porter Field and Arthur Matthews.  The first class graduated from the Mason high school in 1873 with two members, the smallest class in its history, while this year's class can boast of being the largest.  The alumni list now numbers 409.  Of the entire number 33 have been called by death.

It is not known what all the class of 1914 will do another year, but in all probability a large percentage of them will enter higher institutions of learning.  It is expected that Ralph Strope, Porter Field and Henry Adams will enter the M.A.C. in the fall; Emily Sayre, Zola Otis and Louis Grettenberger ware planning to go to the State Normal college at Ypsilanti; Irene Burgess and Bessie Hayner think now they will go to the state Western Normal at Kalamazoo; Horace Hall will enter Kalamazoo college; Martha Thayer will enter Ferris Institute; Gladys Lasenby has decided to attend some eastern college, but does not know which one; Ruby Collins will become a trained nurse, and will enter some training school at once.

Louis did go on to enter and graduate from the State Normal College at Ypsilanti (now Eastern Michigan University). He began his employment career as a teacher but his administrative skills soon became evident and he moved into the position as a superintendent of schools in Perry Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 6 April 1917

OKEMOS TEACHER GOES TO MORRICE

LOUIS GRETTENBERGER IS ENGAGED AS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS COMING YEAR

Morrice, April 6 - Louis Grettenberger, of Okemos, has been engaged to act as superintendent of the school here another year.  Mr. Grettenberger has just concluded his course at the state normal, and comes well recommended.  Supt. Adams, whose place he will take, has been offered a third more in other schools, and will accept one of the offers soon.  He has been superintendent of the schools here for the past three years and has done much to build them up.  There has been no principal hired as yet to take the place of Miss Murdock, who will teach in the Leslie schools.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 28 April 1917

GRETTENBERGER RECOVERS

Louis Grettenberger, who was injured in a fall from a moving automobile, has recovered consciousness and is on a fair way toward recovery, so friends here have been informed by members of his family.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 26 May 1917

Louis Grettenberger, of Okemos, the new school superintendent was here Friday afternoon to visit the school and observe the classes. 

On 5 June 1917 Louis registered for the World War I Draft in Ingham County.  He listed his occupation as "school superintendent of Morrice" and his employer as "Board of Trustees of Morrice."  He was described as single, of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair.  Louis was superintendent one year at Morrice before being called into service in the US Army. 

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) 22 January 1919

Okemos Jan. 22 - Louis Grettenberger, who for the past few months has been in France, has received his discharge and is now at his home here.

Louis married Edith Beatrice Sedelbauer 1 September 1920, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.  Edith, born 5 March 1898 in Grand Rapids, was the daughter of John and Sophia (Brickson) Sedelbauer.  The couple had 3 children; George, Phyllis and Valda.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 3 September 1920*

Announcements were received here by friends of Louis H. Grettenberger of his marriage to Edith Beatrice Sedelbanner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sedelbanner in the Grand Rapids, Wednesday.  The young couple will be at home in Ithaca, September 15.  Mr. Grettenberger taught here one year when he was called into service by the entrance of this country into war.  His many friends wish him a happy married life. 

*Note misspelling of surname Sedelbauer in newspaper article.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 25 June 1921

GRETTENBERGERS IN REUNION AT LAKE

The Grettenberger family, 160 strong, gathered Friday at Pine lake for the twelfth annual reunion and picnic.  At the business meeting which was part of the day's program, it was practically decided to incorporate in the Grettenberger Family Reunion association by-laws a clause which will make Pine lake an annual meeting place.

Prof. Louis Grettenberger, of Ithaca, was elected president for the year.  Other officers elected were: vice-president, George G. Grettenberger, Perry; secretary, Miss Esther Grettenberger, Okemos; treasurer, Ralph Stillman, Okemos.  Mrs. Lena Kieppe, of Alaiedon, wife of John Kieppe, acted as chairman.  Reports of the officers show that the association lost two members by death during the year.  These were Mrs. Charles Grettenberger, Williamston, and Miss Dora Grettenberger, Okemos.

Talks by Mrs. Kieppe and William Kling and special music entertained the big family in a very interesting program.  The old family history, begins with John Grettenberger, one of the member of the advisory council of the Bismarck regime when the German empire was founding, was read and heard with the same family interest.

John G. Grettenberger, descendant of the John who was Bismarck's friend, was the pioneer Grettenberger in America, and founded the family here.  He arrived in Philadelphia "broke" but optimistic and earnest.  It was he who settled on and cleared up the old Grettenberger homestead just out of the village of Okemos in 1854.  His death occurred many years ago.

His son, John C. Grettenberger, attended the reunion of his family and told some of its early history.  Mr. Grettenberger was the oldest of the family present in the big outing.  The old homestead is now managed by Charles Grettenberger and has housed four generations.

Among those who attended were Mr. and Mrs. William Kling, and Mr. and Mrs. George M. Kling, of Grand Rapids, Prof. Louis Grettenberger, of Ithaca; Mr. and Mrs. George Grettenberger, Perry; and Mrs. Anna Fink and family, of Ovid.  The Grand Rapids branch of the family brought the family silk American flag which had a conspicuous place over the big picnic table in the Pine lake resort grove.

The Grettenberger family, it was shown by its history, has always took up arms for principles it believed was right.  In the cemeteries about Lansing sleep a number of the old line Grettenbergers who fought on the Union side in the Civil War.  Some of them never came back.  In the World war the family was represented in many branches of service and in the Spanish-American War also left its record.

Louis, during the 1920's, went back to school at the University of Michigan and studied law.  The 1930 Kent County, Michigan US Federal census enumerated Louis as an employed attorney working for a law firm in Kent County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 3 June 1933

U.S. ATTORNEY TO RETIRE

Grand Rapids, June 3 - Louis H. Grettenberger, assistant United States district attorney here, will retire from office July 1, to resume private practice.

Louis remained a prominent attorney in Kent County for many years.  He succumbed to a stroke 15 December 1964, Grand Rapids.  Edith died 12 November 1983.  Louis and Edith were interred Woodlawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 15 December 1964

EX-OKEMOS MAN DIES IN GRAND RAPIDS

A former Okemos resident, Louis Grettenberger, 69-year-old Grand Rapids attorney, died this morning at a Grand Rapids Hospital.

Grettenberger, who was born in Okemos, was a graduate of Mason High School.  After receiving his bachelor's degree at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, he entered the teaching profession at Morrice and became superintendent of the Ithaca Public Schools.  Later, he studied law at the University of Michigan.

He is survived by his wife, Edith; a son, Rev. George Grettenberger of Grand Rapids; a daughter, Mrs. John Rumsey, Rochester, N.Y.; two brothers, John and Albert, and a sister, Mrs. Walter Southworth, all of Okemos.

Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) Wednesday 16 December 1964

LAWYER DIES

Grand Rapids - Attorney Louis H. Grettenberger, 69, who had served formerly as an Assistant U. S. district Attorney and as deputy city attorney and also was a city charter commission member in 1951, died Tuesday at Butterworth Hospital.  He was admitted last Friday after suffering a stroke at his home.