Orren Charles Granquist was born on April 14, 1938, at the Grantsburg Hospital in
Grantsburg, Wisconsin, to Oscar T. and Elvina E. (Carlson) Granquist. He passed
away on March 16, 2025 at the Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg.
Orren grew up in the Trade River area. He attended the one-room rural Trade River
elementary school and graduated from Grantsburg High School in 1956. He
attended Sunday School and confirmation at the Trade River Church.
Orren was drafted into the United States Army in 1961. He attended basic training at
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was
transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas where he served until honorably discharged in
Orren returned to Wisconsin to live with his parents and worked with his father
cutting pulpwood and poles.
Orren really liked socializing and visited with many of the Anderson Township
residents during his 40 years as a maintenance worker for the township. His social
side came out at the Sterling Township Old Settlers Picnics, the Continuing Care
Center, even at the grocery store!
Orren valued outdoor activities. In his younger years, he liked to hunt deer. He
enjoyed fishing during the summer but especially ice fishing as he could visit with
other people while doing so. Orren was a gardener at heart and was proud of the
large watermelons he grew. He always raised a good crop of potatoes. Scouting
and picking wild blueberries was a favorite summer activity.
Orren is survived by his sister, Beverly Cambronne; nephews Kevin (Mary Kay)
Cambronne, Craig (Sandra) Cambronne and David (Regina) Woodru; step-nephew, Ted
Haupt; and nieces, Kelly (Zac) Smeltzer, Tracy (Robert) Day, Carol Woodru and Linda
(Chris) Jensen. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Betty Lou and
husband Wayne Woodru and Barbara and husband Dennis Haakenson; brothers,
Orville Granquist and wife Estelle, and Raymond Granquist; and brother-in law,
Gerald Cambronne.
A memorial service for Orren will be held on May 3 at the Trade River Evangelical
Free Church, 20296 WI-87, Grantsburg, Wisconsin.
