Clemence Gresczyk

Clemence J Gresczyk, 79, Grand Marais, died peacefully, with his children at his side, on February 17, 2014 at Essentia Health of Duluth.

Clem was born on November 23,1934 in Moose Lake, Minnesota to Eleanor and Tony Gresczyk. He grew up on the family farm in Rutledge and graduated from Willow River High School. Clem married Carol Aakhus in 1954 and moved to Grand Marais where they raised their family.

Clem's work was his passion. He so enjoyed meeting and working with the people of Cook County. Clem and Carol bought North Shore Jobbing service in 1959 and operated the business until 1974. He continued with the vending portion for another ten years. In 1975 he began G&G Septic Service and later partnered with his son. Clem took pride in his business, especially the reputation of his clean portable toilets.

In later years, he enjoyed being at the shop with his Labrador friend Harley. He spent hours fixing things, messing up the shop, and waiting for his next friend to stop and visit. Clem enjoyed fishing at Isle Royale, hunting, especially with his great friend Pootie Drouillard. He loved country music, the Dallas Cowboys and was a compassionate lover of animals. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Tony Gresczyk, five sisters Veronica Taylor, Barbara Gresczyk, Mary Ann Gresczyk, Irene Balut and Martha Wallace, and a brother Tony Gresczyk Jr.

Clem will be lovingly remembered by his special friend Marilyn Larson (the angel in apartment 114); his two children Cheryl (Larry) Conner of Las Vegas, NV and Carl "Pete" (Carline) Gresczyk of Grand Marais; two grandchildren Teryn Jackson of Las Vegas and Gregory Gresczyk of Grand Marais; step grandchildren Todd (Jessica) Gervais of Arizona, Gina Gervais of Duluth, Ashley and Julie Conner both of Las Vegas; great grandchildren Mason and Grace Gervais of Arizona; a sister Gertie Maniak of Kettle River; Carol Gresczyk Ouellette of Las Vegas and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the North Shore Hospital for their many years of caring for our father. A special thanks to Doctor Michael Sampson for the understanding of the "Pollock."

Thank you to the staff at Essentia Health for their care and compassion. And a final thank you to the Portage Boys for sharing dad's love of music.

Visitation will be from 10:30 AM until the 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, March 1, 2014 at St. John's Catholic Church in Grand Marais with a luncheon to follow in the church hall.