Esther L. Grinna

Esther L. Grinna, age 91, of Decorah, IA, died Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2016 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. David Sorenson officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 a.m. Friday, one hour before the service, at the church. Esther Lucille (Nesset) Grinna was born on November 13, 1924 in Leeds, North Dakota, to Blanche A. (Lawston) Nesset and Alfred O. Nesset. She graduated from Leeds (ND) High School in 1942, and graduated from Luther College in 1946. Esther was united in marriage with Alden Theodore Grinna on May 17, 1949 in West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa. They were blessed with four children: Mary (died soon after birth in 1950), Mary Lynn, Susan and Stephen. She worked as the secretary to the editor of the Decorah Newspapers for a number of years. She also worked for many years at Luther College, in the Business Office, where she supplied her children, nieces, and nephews with a listening ear, lots of advice, and candy when they stopped by her office. After retirement, she volunteered at several places, including Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Alden on October 5, 2014; a baby girl in infancy in 1950; her daughter, Mary Yount on January 12, 2007; and her sister Ruth Eggleston. Esther is survived by two children, Susan (Steve) Youngs of Webster, NH and Steve (Kim) Grinna of Decorah; twelve grandchildren: Brittany (Charles) Metzig, Blake (Stephanie) Leisinger; Thea, Nora, and Merike Youngs; Grant, Sierra, Moriah, Garrison, Sophia, Stella, and Angelica Grinna; five great-grandchildren: Gus, Henry, and Asher Metzig, McKinley and Elijah Leisinger; one sister Elsie Kittleson of Decorah; and by many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to Luther College, c/o Development Office, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 or Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA 52101.