Born on July 6, 1929 in San Francisco, California, to Oskar Albin Gronberg of Norway and Maren Kirsten Nielsen of Denmark, Dick passed away on June 12, 2009 in a cabin he built on his property in Forestville, CA, known by many as "Buddha Cabin."
Dick went to school in San Francisco, graduating from Washington High School in 1947. He worked in his father's used furniture store until he enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1950. He met the mother of his children, May Ekstrom, at a dance in San Francisco. They were married two months after his enlistment in the Coast Guard was up. He took some time off to build his first home in Fairfax, CA. After the completion of the house, he opened his own used furniture store in San Rafael in 1956 on 4th Street. He gradually moved into new furniture and was in the process of moving into larger quarters when both stores caught fire. This 1957 fire burned one city block on both sides of 4th Street. Not giving up, he moved his furniture to Johnson's Red Barn in Novato. He ran his business until his retirement in 1981.
Dick was an active community member, and instrumental in getting the first Christmas decorations displayed in Novato. He started the Downtown Business Association and was active in the Water Skiers of Marin. He also attended all of his daughter's dance recitals. Dick had a passion for adventure that he shared with his family and friends. One such trip was in 1962 with his parents, his wife and their three children, the youngest being only two months old. A 4,000 mile round trip to Alaska in a camper has not yet been forgotten. Five week family vacations at Shasta Lake were the norm for the Gronberg family. Always busy with one project or another, he built the only "telephone-pole house" in all of Novato. Remembering the joy of this "Pole House" as a child, his son Paul also built one in Cotati many years later. Again, not being able to remain idle, he converted a brand new 1973 Dodge Van into a custom motor home that has seen many miles on the road and is still in service today. He began building a home in Forestville in 1983. This home has to be seen to be believed. Every inch of it exhibits Dick's workmanship.
In 2004, while at a Polka Festival in Washington State, Dick met his current wife Pat Peterson and they were married shortly thereafter. They enjoyed traveling and dancing together at Little Switzerland in Sonoma.
Dick will always be remembered for his generous heart, creativity, and the ability to encourage like no other. He will be missed indeed. He is survived by his wife Pat; his three children, Linda Ward (John), Carl Gronberg (Gina), and Paul Gronberg (Barbra); as well as his seven grandchildren, Kristen, Brendan, Jenna, Rochelle, Sean, Ryan, Ben; and his brother Henry Gronberg. He is also survived by his former wives May Gronberg and Carol Hince. A Memorial Service will be held at Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy. in Petaluma, on Friday June 26th at 1:00 p.m., reception to follow. All who knew him are welcome to attend.
Published Online in the Press Democrat from June 21 to June 26, 2009.
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Califoria Birth Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929 in San Francisco, CA. Mother's maiden name was Nielson.
1940 Census, taken 3 Apr 1940, has Oscar Gronberg, 49, born in Norway, proprietor of a furniture store, married to Maren, 46, born in Denmark, living in San Francisco, CA. Children are: Richard, m, 10, and Henry, m, 9.
California Marriage Index has Richard A Gronberg married Mary L Ekstrom on 14 Feb 1954 in San Francisco, CA.
US Phone and Address Directories has Richard Gronberg living in Forestville, Sonoma County, CA in 1995-2002.
US Social Security Death Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929, died 12 Jun 2009. Last residence was Forestville, CA.
Dick went to school in San Francisco, graduating from Washington High School in 1947. He worked in his father's used furniture store until he enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1950. He met the mother of his children, May Ekstrom, at a dance in San Francisco. They were married two months after his enlistment in the Coast Guard was up. He took some time off to build his first home in Fairfax, CA. After the completion of the house, he opened his own used furniture store in San Rafael in 1956 on 4th Street. He gradually moved into new furniture and was in the process of moving into larger quarters when both stores caught fire. This 1957 fire burned one city block on both sides of 4th Street. Not giving up, he moved his furniture to Johnson's Red Barn in Novato. He ran his business until his retirement in 1981.
Dick was an active community member, and instrumental in getting the first Christmas decorations displayed in Novato. He started the Downtown Business Association and was active in the Water Skiers of Marin. He also attended all of his daughter's dance recitals. Dick had a passion for adventure that he shared with his family and friends. One such trip was in 1962 with his parents, his wife and their three children, the youngest being only two months old. A 4,000 mile round trip to Alaska in a camper has not yet been forgotten. Five week family vacations at Shasta Lake were the norm for the Gronberg family. Always busy with one project or another, he built the only "telephone-pole house" in all of Novato. Remembering the joy of this "Pole House" as a child, his son Paul also built one in Cotati many years later. Again, not being able to remain idle, he converted a brand new 1973 Dodge Van into a custom motor home that has seen many miles on the road and is still in service today. He began building a home in Forestville in 1983. This home has to be seen to be believed. Every inch of it exhibits Dick's workmanship.
In 2004, while at a Polka Festival in Washington State, Dick met his current wife Pat Peterson and they were married shortly thereafter. They enjoyed traveling and dancing together at Little Switzerland in Sonoma.
Dick will always be remembered for his generous heart, creativity, and the ability to encourage like no other. He will be missed indeed. He is survived by his wife Pat; his three children, Linda Ward (John), Carl Gronberg (Gina), and Paul Gronberg (Barbra); as well as his seven grandchildren, Kristen, Brendan, Jenna, Rochelle, Sean, Ryan, Ben; and his brother Henry Gronberg. He is also survived by his former wives May Gronberg and Carol Hince. A Memorial Service will be held at Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy. in Petaluma, on Friday June 26th at 1:00 p.m., reception to follow. All who knew him are welcome to attend.
Published Online in the Press Democrat from June 21 to June 26, 2009.
---
Califoria Birth Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929 in San Francisco, CA. Mother's maiden name was Nielson.
1940 Census, taken 3 Apr 1940, has Oscar Gronberg, 49, born in Norway, proprietor of a furniture store, married to Maren, 46, born in Denmark, living in San Francisco, CA. Children are: Richard, m, 10, and Henry, m, 9.
California Marriage Index has Richard A Gronberg married Mary L Ekstrom on 14 Feb 1954 in San Francisco, CA.
US Phone and Address Directories has Richard Gronberg living in Forestville, Sonoma County, CA in 1995-2002.
US Social Security Death Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929, died 12 Jun 2009. Last residence was Forestville, CA.
Born on July 6, 1929 in San Francisco, California, to Oskar Albin Gronberg of Norway and Maren Kirsten Nielsen of Denmark, Dick passed away on June 12, 2009 in a cabin he built on his property in Forestville, CA, known by many as "Buddha Cabin."
Dick went to school in San Francisco, graduating from Washington High School in 1947. He worked in his father's used furniture store until he enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1950. He met the mother of his children, May Ekstrom, at a dance in San Francisco. They were married two months after his enlistment in the Coast Guard was up. He took some time off to build his first home in Fairfax, CA. After the completion of the house, he opened his own used furniture store in San Rafael in 1956 on 4th Street. He gradually moved into new furniture and was in the process of moving into larger quarters when both stores caught fire. This 1957 fire burned one city block on both sides of 4th Street. Not giving up, he moved his furniture to Johnson's Red Barn in Novato. He ran his business until his retirement in 1981.
Dick was an active community member, and instrumental in getting the first Christmas decorations displayed in Novato. He started the Downtown Business Association and was active in the Water Skiers of Marin. He also attended all of his daughter's dance recitals. Dick had a passion for adventure that he shared with his family and friends. One such trip was in 1962 with his parents, his wife and their three children, the youngest being only two months old. A 4,000 mile round trip to Alaska in a camper has not yet been forgotten. Five week family vacations at Shasta Lake were the norm for the Gronberg family. Always busy with one project or another, he built the only "telephone-pole house" in all of Novato. Remembering the joy of this "Pole House" as a child, his son Paul also built one in Cotati many years later. Again, not being able to remain idle, he converted a brand new 1973 Dodge Van into a custom motor home that has seen many miles on the road and is still in service today. He began building a home in Forestville in 1983. This home has to be seen to be believed. Every inch of it exhibits Dick's workmanship.
In 2004, while at a Polka Festival in Washington State, Dick met his current wife Pat Peterson and they were married shortly thereafter. They enjoyed traveling and dancing together at Little Switzerland in Sonoma.
Dick will always be remembered for his generous heart, creativity, and the ability to encourage like no other. He will be missed indeed. He is survived by his wife Pat; his three children, Linda Ward (John), Carl Gronberg (Gina), and Paul Gronberg (Barbra); as well as his seven grandchildren, Kristen, Brendan, Jenna, Rochelle, Sean, Ryan, Ben; and his brother Henry Gronberg. He is also survived by his former wives May Gronberg and Carol Hince. A Memorial Service will be held at Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy. in Petaluma, on Friday June 26th at 1:00 p.m., reception to follow. All who knew him are welcome to attend.
Published Online in the Press Democrat from June 21 to June 26, 2009.
---
Califoria Birth Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929 in San Francisco, CA. Mother's maiden name was Nielson.
1940 Census, taken 3 Apr 1940, has Oscar Gronberg, 49, born in Norway, proprietor of a furniture store, married to Maren, 46, born in Denmark, living in San Francisco, CA. Children are: Richard, m, 10, and Henry, m, 9.
California Marriage Index has Richard A Gronberg married Mary L Ekstrom on 14 Feb 1954 in San Francisco, CA.
US Phone and Address Directories has Richard Gronberg living in Forestville, Sonoma County, CA in 1995-2002.
US Social Security Death Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929, died 12 Jun 2009. Last residence was Forestville, CA.
Dick went to school in San Francisco, graduating from Washington High School in 1947. He worked in his father's used furniture store until he enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1950. He met the mother of his children, May Ekstrom, at a dance in San Francisco. They were married two months after his enlistment in the Coast Guard was up. He took some time off to build his first home in Fairfax, CA. After the completion of the house, he opened his own used furniture store in San Rafael in 1956 on 4th Street. He gradually moved into new furniture and was in the process of moving into larger quarters when both stores caught fire. This 1957 fire burned one city block on both sides of 4th Street. Not giving up, he moved his furniture to Johnson's Red Barn in Novato. He ran his business until his retirement in 1981.
Dick was an active community member, and instrumental in getting the first Christmas decorations displayed in Novato. He started the Downtown Business Association and was active in the Water Skiers of Marin. He also attended all of his daughter's dance recitals. Dick had a passion for adventure that he shared with his family and friends. One such trip was in 1962 with his parents, his wife and their three children, the youngest being only two months old. A 4,000 mile round trip to Alaska in a camper has not yet been forgotten. Five week family vacations at Shasta Lake were the norm for the Gronberg family. Always busy with one project or another, he built the only "telephone-pole house" in all of Novato. Remembering the joy of this "Pole House" as a child, his son Paul also built one in Cotati many years later. Again, not being able to remain idle, he converted a brand new 1973 Dodge Van into a custom motor home that has seen many miles on the road and is still in service today. He began building a home in Forestville in 1983. This home has to be seen to be believed. Every inch of it exhibits Dick's workmanship.
In 2004, while at a Polka Festival in Washington State, Dick met his current wife Pat Peterson and they were married shortly thereafter. They enjoyed traveling and dancing together at Little Switzerland in Sonoma.
Dick will always be remembered for his generous heart, creativity, and the ability to encourage like no other. He will be missed indeed. He is survived by his wife Pat; his three children, Linda Ward (John), Carl Gronberg (Gina), and Paul Gronberg (Barbra); as well as his seven grandchildren, Kristen, Brendan, Jenna, Rochelle, Sean, Ryan, Ben; and his brother Henry Gronberg. He is also survived by his former wives May Gronberg and Carol Hince. A Memorial Service will be held at Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy. in Petaluma, on Friday June 26th at 1:00 p.m., reception to follow. All who knew him are welcome to attend.
Published Online in the Press Democrat from June 21 to June 26, 2009.
---
Califoria Birth Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929 in San Francisco, CA. Mother's maiden name was Nielson.
1940 Census, taken 3 Apr 1940, has Oscar Gronberg, 49, born in Norway, proprietor of a furniture store, married to Maren, 46, born in Denmark, living in San Francisco, CA. Children are: Richard, m, 10, and Henry, m, 9.
California Marriage Index has Richard A Gronberg married Mary L Ekstrom on 14 Feb 1954 in San Francisco, CA.
US Phone and Address Directories has Richard Gronberg living in Forestville, Sonoma County, CA in 1995-2002.
US Social Security Death Index has Richard Alfred Gronberg, born 6 Jul 1929, died 12 Jun 2009. Last residence was Forestville, CA.
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