Grant Allison Guengerich

Grant Allison Guengerich, 94, born March 8, 1929 in Lockport, NY, entered into his heavenly home on July 26, 2023. He was known as Dad, Grandpa, Great Papa, big brother and uncle. He accepted the Lord at a young age & loved the Lord throughout his whole life.

 

Grant was married to his wife, Ella Mae (Troyer) for 74 years, married on 11/28/1948 in Alden, NY. He has six children: Gloria Joyce (Leon Goshow), Dewey, AZ, Dale Allison (Linda Dodd) Sarasota, FL, Bruce Paul (Mary Sauder), Asheville, NC, Duane Ray (Sherry Aronson) Sarasota, FL, Kenneth Neil (Kerry Demers), Sarasota, FL, and Gina Marie (Al Shank), Sarasota, FL and 15 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren, which includes 2 sets of twins and also he has many nieces and nephews.

 

He has a twin sister, Vivian Zehr in Des Allemands, LA and a brother, Owen, in Sequin, WA.

 

Preceded in death were his parents, Willis Vernon Guengerich and Lula Lovina Christner of Sarasota, FL, his younger sister, Inez Embleton of Greenwood, DE, and a daughter, Arlene Mae (3 months old) Greenwood, DE.

 

Growing up, Grant helped his dad on the farm & learned the trade of carpentry. After 40 years in NY, where he loved skiing, camping, hunting and boating, he moved his family to Sarasota in 1969 after his daughter, Gloria's, wedding. He was a licensed general contractor, a realtor and broker, a motel owner, started the first home inspection business in Sarasota County, and in his "retirement" delivered flowers with Ella for Aloha Flowers & Gifts. He was an active member of Bethel Mennonite Church as an usher & Sunday School teacher. Grant was involved with Christian Fellowship Mission, making several trips to Haiti and was the treasurer for CFM. He and Ella loved to travel and spend time at hymn sings with their many friends. He was a previous member of the Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church and the Bahia Vista Mennonite Church.

 

The private burial for the family is on August 1st, 2023, at Bethel Mennonite Church cemetery. On Saturday, August 12th, there will be a visitation at 10:30 AM, followed by a celebration of life service for Grant at 11 AM, also at Bethel Mennonite Church, 2985 Bethel Lane, Sarasota, FL 34240. Any financial donations in memory of Grant can be given to CFM: www.christianfellowshipmission.org or Bethel Mennonite Church.