Richard Floyd Gripp

Richard Floyd Gripp, 98, of Princeton, formerly of Mille Lacs Lake, Aitkin, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in Sterling Pointe Senior Living, Princeton.  He was born October 25, 1925 to Floyd and Gladys (Zopfi) Gripp in South St. Paul.  Richard was united in marriage to Miriam Reynolds on January 11, 1945 and they had two daughters, Nancy and Kathleen.  He enlisted January 26, 1945 in the United States Navy and fought in WWII on Wake Island until May 25, 1946.  Miriam passed away in July of 1964.

In 2015, Dick was out for dinner one night with his buddy, a woman asked if she could join them.  They both had been friends with her and her family for many years.  That’s when Judy entered his life and he was so happily in love.  They were together for nine years until Richard moved to Sterling Pointe.  He was a friend of all friends.  If anyone needed help of any kind, Dick was there to help.  He loved building Martin birdhouses, many of them can be seen on properties on Mille Lacs Lake.  Dick was an avid sportsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting.  He belonged to the Wealthwood Rod and Gun Club.  He also was a pretty good bowler and played baseball for many years.  Dick was a member of Aitkin American Legion Post#86 for 78 years.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Miriam; daughter, Kathleen Proulx; significant other, Mary Englund.

Dick is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Julius) Dorweiler; girlfriend, Judy Stahl and her family; sister, Phyllis Bartz; grandsons, Tony (Cara) Pence, Scott (Nicole) Pence; granddaughter, Nikki Quiles; great grandchildren, Alyssa, Morgan, Collin, Jack, Austin (Lauren), Marissa, Amelia, Sebastian and Benjamin; great great granddaughter, Emerson; nieces and nephews, Barb Klecker, Joshua, Jacob, Tim (Kim) Bartz, Heather and Hunter.

Dick will be greatly missed by many relatives and friends.

Services will be Wednesday, January 24 at 11 AM in Bethesda Lutheran Church, Malmo with Pastor James Muske officiating.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service.  Military Honors will be provided by Aitkin American Legion Post #86 and Aitkin V.F.W. Post #1727.  Private Interment will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis.  A special thank you to the staff at Sterling Pointe Senior Living and Moments Hospice for the excellent care they gave to Dick.  To sign the guestbook online, go to:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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