Jared Donovan Grieser

Jared Donovan “Don” Grieser, age 81, of Frazee, MN, passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at his home with his wife, Cecelia, by his side. A funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 23 at the Frazee Event Center. A visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, July 22 at Furey Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7:00 pm, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the Event Center. A lifelong farmer, Don was born on April 30, 1934, in West Point, NE, to Christian and Catherine Grieser (Huebert). Don grew up in Beemer, NE, until his family relocated to Frazee, MN, where he graduated from high school in 1953. After high school, Don was drafted into the Army. While serving at Fort Lewis, WA, Don worked with Cecelia. They were married in 1959 and began farming in Frazee, MN. In 1965, the Grieser’s moved to Audubon, MN, where they raised their nine children on the farm. Don and Cecelia stayed in Audubon until 2012, when they relocated to their current home in Frazee. Don was a farmer to the core; raising sheep, dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, horses, chickens, and more than a few other animals. He loved being on the tractor or in his truck visiting his many friends and neighbors, sharing the bounty from his garden. Don also worked as a USDA meat inspector, primarily at Swift's in Detroit Lakes, retiring in 1990. Line workers fondly remember Don for often pitching in to help meet their daily quotas. Baptized in the Mennonite Church, Don attended the Lake Region Mennonite Church for most of his life. While Don lived in Audubon, the family attended both the First Lutheran Church and Audubon Chapel, where they met many lifelong friends. For the past 20 years, Don served as a leader at the Lake Region Mennonite Church. Don is survived by his wife; Cecelia; children: Cheryl (Roger) Nord of Burnsville, MN, Greg (Deb Nelson) of Audubon, MN, Teresa (Dave) Page of Janesville, MN, John Paul (Lori Oswald) of Frazee, MN, Mary (John) Bekkerus of Frazee, MN, Christine (Randy Zortman) of Chamberlain, SD, Jim (Karen) of Maple Valley, WA, Dan (Jaclyn) of Waynesville, MO, and David (Adriana) of Bloomington, MN. Don was blessed with 25 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Joanne Stehman; a brother, Joel Grieser; and three grandchildren.