Andrew (Andy) Grensteiner

Andrew “Andy” Grensteiner, 90, Bismarck, formerly of Braddock, died November 5, 2015, in Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, November 9, at St. Katherine Catholic Church, Braddock, with Rev. Jason Signalness officiating. Burial will be held at St. Katherine Cemetery, Braddock. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Sunday, November 8, 2015, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Andy was born November 19, 1924, on a farm east of Linton. He came to Braddock with his parents Philip and Elizabeth (Bosch) Grensteiner in 1940. Andy was a veteran of WWII and after returning from the war he married Mary Feist on October 14, 1948, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Hazelton, ND. Following their marriage they operated a café and bar business until Andy began working at the Ulrich Grain Elevator in 1950. He became manager in 1957; and in 1962 he and Mary became part-owners of the elevator, at which time the name changed to Farmers Elevator Co. In 1982, they became sole owners until their retirement in 1988. Over the years, Andy was very involved in city and county government. He started serving the community of Braddock in 1955 as councilman and was mayor from 1968 to 1980. He also was a member of the Braddock Fire Department, the American Legion, the Lions Club, and St. Katherine Catholic Church. Andy was a director of the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association from 1980 to 1989. He loved to play drums and played for many weddings, anniversaries, and dances. In 2011, Andy was honored to be part of the Roughrider Honors Flight to Washington, DC, to visit the WWII Memorial. Andy moved to Bismarck in 2012, and resided at Edgewood Vista until the time of his death. Grateful to have shared his life and those he leaves behind are his three children, Brenda (Jim) Cook, Hazen, ND, Duane (Marlene) Grensteiner, Northfield, MN, and Ron (Aimee) Grensteiner, Urbandale, IA; his six grandchildren, Stacey (Jed) Van Gelderen, Susan (Dion) Gress, Brian (Jill) Grensteiner, Brad Cook, Christian Grensteiner and Joshua Grensteiner; his seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Theresa (Leonard) Leier and JoAnne (Tony) Glatt; one brother, Henry Grensteiner; sister-in-law, Lorraine Grensteiner; and dear friend, Marlene Ritter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents, Philip and Elizabeth Grensteiner; his brother, George; and an infant sister, Alyce. Andy had a deep love for his faith, family, community, and country.