Agnes Elizabeth Grettenberger was the oldest of 11 known children born to Johann "John" Christian (1843-1923) and Mary Catherine Louise (Haag) (1858-1918) Grettenberger. Both John and Mary Catherine had deep Germanic roots. John immigrated from Germany into the United States during the 1840's. Mary Catherine's father arrived from Germany in the same decade, while her maternal grandfather was born in Prussia and immigrated probably in the 1830's. John Christian and Mary Catherine came from a long line of hard-working, family-oriented farmers. They passed on those attributes to further generations.

Agnes was born 28 December 1876, Ingham County, Michigan. Little is known about her youth, but it can be assumed she was of extraordinary help to her mother as the roll of siblings increased in the Grettenberger household. Agnes was a student in the Okemos Union School during the year of 1888. According to the 1940 US Federal Census for Ingham County, Michigan, Agnes' schooling went to the 8th grade level.

On 18 November 1896, Holt, Ingham County, Michigan, Agnes married William Everett. William, born 14 October 1865, arrived in American in 1891 and he too was of a Germanic background, hailing originally from Poland-Russia. The marriage union with Agnes would produce 6 children. Newspaper articles indicate that from the organizational beginnings, Agness was always involved in the yearly and annual large Grettenberger family reunion that took place in Ingham County. The reunion grew in size, with Agness being an intricate part of planning and hosting.

In 1930, tragedy struck the Everett household. William took his own life, 20 June 1930, Ingham County. He was visiting at the home of his brother-in-law, John Grettenberger, when he made his final decision with a 12-gauge shotgun. Agnes, in her grief, filled in very little of William's background on the death certificate, other than he was born in Russia. No parents were named or identified.

Agnes continued to live within Ingham County, in the last years with her bachelor brothers William and John, on the Grettenberger family farm. She was active in several women's circles in Alaiedon township. A successful surgery for cataracts in 1938 certainly helped make her life a bit easier. Agnes died 27 January 1952, Okemos. She was interred with husband William, Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Grettenberger, Agnes Elizabeth (married William Everett 1896) Grettenberger Reunion, Lansing State Journal, 25 June 1923, Page 3

Everett, William (married Agnes Elizabeth Grettenberger 1896) obit, Lansing State Journal, Saturday, June 21, 1930

Everett, William (married Agnes Elizabeth Grettenberger 1896) Michigan Certificate of Death 1930

Grettenberger, Agnes Elizabeth (married William Everett 1896) Grettenberger Reunion, Lansing State Journal, 27 June 1951, Page 5

Grettenberger, Agnes Elizabeth (married William Everett 1896) obit, Lansing State Journal, Monday, January 28, 1952