William John Grzanic

Glendive, Montana: William John Grzanic, age 91, passed away on Friday, November 11, 2011 on Veteran's Day at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home with Reverend Emma Curtis officiating. Interment with military honors will be held in Dawson Memorial Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. William John Grzanic was born on November 19, 1919 in Albia, Iowa and was baptized in Granger, Iowa. His parents Paul Grzanic and Antonia Rodosivich-Ruzec were immigrants to Ellis Island in 1910 from Tuk, Hungary and Croatia. They came to the United States to work in the coal mines. William moved to Ashland, Wisconsin with his family and complete the fourth grade. His family then moved to Fairview, Montana where he worked in the sugar beet fields and was then hired by the Noley sisters of Noley, North Dakota. He met Elaine Seminow while working on the Noley farm and they were later married on December 21, 1941 in Williston, North Dakota. World War II separated them when William was sent overseas as an Army tank driver and mechanic. He fought in the Rhineland, Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge with the 771st Tank Battalion (Rail Splitters) 84th Infantry 3rd Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star for moving a tank that was hit by an enemy flare away from an ammunition convoy and extinguishing the fire. William continued his military service after returning home with 32 years in the National Guard, serving in the Glendive, Culbertson, Montana, Miles City, Montana and Dickinson, North Dakota units. He also worked as a mechanic for several people in Glendive, including Shrimpton Oil Field Supply, Kraus Motors, Duncan Motors, Hilger Chevrolet, HKT Motors, George Rakes and Suhr Transport. He was also a boiler/heating maintenance person for the Sacred Heart Parish. Together with his wife and best friend, Anker Spaabeck, he built a house out of a salvaged barn in 1947 at 308 Clay Street in Glendive, and he was very proud to have done so. He lived in this house for 63 years and enjoyed gardening and planting evergreen trees. He also had an acre of land on the Sidney Highway where he could enjoy his gardens and his shop, which was built to his desired specifications. His dogs, Seely and later Skeeter, were his beloved companions and they walked many miles over many states with him. Monuments were made to honor the faithful service of his canine friends. The messages inscribed brought tears to many animal lovers that stopped. William also had the very first car he bought, a 1949 Chrysler. He spent many hours restoring and polishing it along with a 1964 International Scout. Macular degeneration for 40 years and later in life, bladder cancer, never ceased William's ambition or plans for the future. He enjoyed visiting, polka music, radio talk show, sitting in the sunshine with his dogs, and coffee. William was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; sisters, Pauline, Mary, Emma, and Tillie; brother, Dan; an infant sister, Katrina and his best friend, Anker Spaabeck. He is survived by his three children, Mary Elaine Grzanic Southwell of Billings, Montana, Laura Grzanic of Belfield, North Dakota and William Paul Grzanic of Boise, Idaho. Memorials are suggested to Patriot Paws Service Dogs at 254 Ranch Trail, Rockwall, Texas 75032. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.

William John Grzanic

November 19, 1919 - November 15, 2011

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William John Grzanic

November 19, 1919 - November 15, 2011

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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