Sylvester
Grabanski, 84
Thief
River Falls - Sylvester Grabanski, 84, died Wednesday, April 26,
2000 at Oakland Park Nursing Home in Thief River Falls.
Mass of Christian burial was held at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls with Father Dennis Wieland officiating. Kristi LaSalle was the organist, and Cathy Erickson was the cantor. Special music was provided by the Resurrection Choir.
Casketbearers were Sylvester's grandchildren, Nita Berry, Alese Pomplun, Amber Collignon, Kimberly Maas, Rina Martin, Marcy Mickelson, Bruce Eichorn, Dana Martin, Mark Reierson, Marty Reierson, Billy Rude and Timothy Rude. Honorary casketbearers were Paul and Amy Reierson; Andrea, Brady and Adam Reierson; Alex, Bailey and Patrick Berry; Simon Martin; Zachary and Halley Maas; and Jacob, Mathew and Alexander Rude. Burial was held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Calvary Cemetery in Grand Forks, N.D. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Sylvester E. Grabanski was born on January 2, 1916 in Big Woods township of Marshall county, the son of Vincent and Minnie (Kulas) Grabanski. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw, N.D. He resided in Big Woods township, and when he was 11 years old, he and his family moved to Ardoch, N.D. As a young man, he was active with the National Guard at Camp Grafton.
On September 29, 1937, Sylvester was united in marriage to Adeline Ann Kosmatka at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw. The couple lived and farmed near Warsaw until 1949, when they moved to Grand Forks, N.D. In 1952, they moved to Holt and in 1956, to the Iron Range, and Sylvester worked in the mines for several years. The couple operated several business places in the area and in 1997, moved to Thief River Falls.
He enjoyed inventing and building gadgets, reading, gardening, telling stories and especially, spending time with family and friends.
Sylvester is survived by three daughters, Jeanette (Clifford) Reierson of Holt, Phyllis (James) Martin of Shoreview and Rose Mary Eichorn of Hibbing; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Aurelia Popowski of Chula Vista, Calif.; one brother, Chester of Blackduck; and three sisters-in-law.
Sylvester was preceded in death by his wife, Adeline in 1997; one son, Carmen; two daughters, Sylvia Grabanski and Audrey Rude; one grandchild, Jill Rude; one great-grandchild, Luke Reierson; his parents; and four brothers, Julian, Stanley, Clarion and Hilary.
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