obit-thumbnail

Gene Grenat

Date of Death: April 2, 2011

Bernard E. Grenat, 74
Bernard E. “Gene” Grenat, 74, of Lafayette, died at 4:35 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011, at St. Elizabeth Central.
He was born Aug. 27, 1936, in Coalmont, and was the son of the late Allen and Mildred Gorby Grenat. A graduate of Jefferson High School in 1955, he attended electronics schools while in the Air Force and received his first class federal communications license in Los Angeles in 1960.
He was married to Patricia Seeley in 1956. They divorced in 1972. He married Jacqueline Heidenreich in 1972, and they divorced in 1978. His marriage to Marilyn Sandberg Fleeger was in December 1990, and she survives.
Mr. Grenat served in the Air Force from March 1956 to November 1960 at Parks Air Force Base, Oakland, Calif., Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Ill., Mountian Home Air Force Base in Mountian Home, Idaho, March Field AFB in Riverside, Calif., and RAF Station in Bruntingthorpe of Leicaster, England.
He worked on and off from the 1960?s through the 1980?s as an avionics electronics technician at Pacific Airmotive Corp. and Air Research, both in Burbank, Calif. He also worked at the Indianapolis Airport and Lockheed Martin Corp. of Los Angeles, where he was part of the Stealth F117 Program.
In Lafayette, he worked at Brown?s Radio & TV Repair, Stella?s Stereo Systems, in nuclear chemistry at Purdue University and Purdue Aeronautics Corp. as an electronics technician from 1991 to 1998.
Mr. Grenat had been a member of Evangelical Covenant Church in Lafayette since 1990.
Surviving with his wife are a son, James Grenat of Dayton, Ind.; a daughter, Cheryl Weida (husband: David) of Westminster, Calif.; a stepson, Jeffrey Fleeger (wife: Joanna) of Tucson, Ariz.; three stepdaughters, Annette Smith (husband: Dave) of West Lafayette, Kristina Oswalt (husband: John) and Jennifer Delong (husband: Bob), both of Lafayette; two sisters, Ruth O&Conner of Lafayette and Connie Stair (husband: Russell) of Jonesboro.
Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Carmen Grenat of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and ex- daughter in-law, Maelene Grenat of Mooresville; 9 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild, and many neices and nephews.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel. Funeral Service 10 a.m. Wednesday at Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St., Lafayette, IN 47909. Officiating will be Pastor Stacey Littlefield. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions to Evangelical Covenant Church, Alzheimer?s Association or donor?s choice. www.soller-baker.com

candle-small flame
Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc. Light a candle Light a candle
Light a Candle

Bernard E. Grenat, 74 Bernard E. “Gene” Grenat, 74, of Lafayette, died at 4:35 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011, at St. Elizabeth Central. He was born Aug. 27, 1936, in Coalmont, and was the son of the late Allen and Mildred Gorby Grenat. A graduate of Jefferson High School in 1955, he attended electronics schoolsContinue Reading

See Condolences
Roger Williams left a message on April 5, 2011:
We are truly sorry for your loss. Roger, Shelly, Hope, Josie and Seth Williams.

Loving God, eternal in heaven, our hearts are lifted to You in prayer. We do so, Lord, in thanksgiving for the life of Gene Grenat We thank You, Lord, for the love of Gene Grenat for You, for our country, and for family and friends; a love that has enriched all of our lives. We are most grateful that by the service of Gene Grenat in the armed forces of the United States of America, we are truly a free people in a free land. Your holy and infinite blessings be with the family and loved ones of Gene Grenat in all of time. Lord, receive Gene Grenat as Your own. Bless Gene Grenat with life everlasting. Amen?.


Mary Pilotte & Geza Lanczy left a message on April 5, 2011:
To Marilyn and the entire family,

We were just heartsick to hear of your loss, and now ours as well. We will forever remember his bright smile and larger than life presence in our community.

Our prayers are with you now,
Mary & Geza
Chaplain David Hess left a message on April 3, 2011:
We will miss Gene. I especially enjoyed getting to know him at devotions and chapel. Our prayers are with you. May he rest easy in the loving arms of the Lord.
Paul and Carole Velten left a message on April 3, 2011:
Dear Marilyn and Family,
Paul and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to you. We enjoyed the time we spent with you and Gene a few years back. He was a very considerate and loving friend. I am sure that our Lord has welcomed Gene into his flock, and will give you comfort in your time of grieving. You have many happy memories to draw upon when you feel swallowed by grief. Hopefully, our paths will cross again someday. We are still here in Alamo, Texas for a few more days before we journey back to Indiana for the summer. Warmest thoughts are with you, Marilyn. Love Carole and Paul
Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc. left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
Show More