Born July 7, 1930 in Metamora, IL to Frederick Jacob and Josephine Mary (Theobald) Grebner; he married Norma Jean Jarrett on November 26, 1955 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Peoria. She preceded him in death on June 23, 2012 in Peoria.
Also preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Herman, Harley and Marion Grebner; sister, Mary Lou Chism; and son-in-law, Jayson Essex.
Surviving are his children, Candy (Bill) Fralick of Farmington, Cindy (Bob) Miller of Glasford, Walter Jay Grebner of Dryden, MI and Cheryl (Rick) Berry of Glasford; grandchildren, Jade Essex of Farmington, Shelby Berry of Peoria and Reid Berry (Mackenzie Brunet) of Lone Tree, CO.
Walter was a US Air Force veteran and a member of the Bartonville American Legion Post #979.
He was a lifetime member of the Peoria RBA, Illinois RBA and the American Rabbit Breeders Associations. He loved to show and judge rabbits and judged them from 1975 until his retirement in 2014.
Walter dedicated 35 years of service as an assembler at Caterpillar, Inc, retiring in 1989.
He enjoyed traveling with Norma, showing & judging rabbits and watching his grandchildren’s activities. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
He was also a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Farmington where mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Thursday, March 21, 2024. Burial with military honors will follow at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria with US Air Force Honors with support from Bartonville American Legion Post 979.
Visitation will be 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 pm. Additional visitation will be 9:00 to 9:45 am Thursday prior to mass at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.
Condolences and memories may be shared through Davison-Fulton-BartonvilleChapel.com
