Stanley Grebenz, 72, passed away peacefully on Sept. 12, 2018, in his home after a two and a half year battle with cancer.
Stanley was born Dec. 11, 1945, in Bessemer, to Mary (Kalcic) and Adolph Grebenz.
At 14 years old, he met the love of his life, Patricia (Colucci) Grebenz, and they were married on Sept. 9, 1967. The couple celebrated 51 years of marriage, and dedicated their lives to each other.
Stan graduated from Mohawk High School in 1963 and was inducted into the Mohawk Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2016. He graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in psychology in 1967 and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years, and then began a career with a manufacturing company in Youngstown. He worked there doing production planning and purchasing for 34 years. He then worked for two years in purchasing for an industrial supply company in Hubbard. He then worked for four years as the Corporate Director of Purchasing for a group of three hospitals in Warren and Youngstown, and finally retired in February 2011.
Stan served his church and his community. He was a member of Christ the King (St. Anthony) Catholic Church his entire life. He served as a Eucharistic minister, served on the parish council, parish finance council, and was a member of the church men’s club. Stan served the Bessemer volunteer fire department as a firefighter, president, and president/ treasurer of the Bessemer Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association. He served as the chairman of the Lawrence County Emergency Operation Center, and was instrumental in the implementation of 911 services for Lawrence County.
Stan loved his hometown of Bessemer, and served for 30 years as a member of council, 25 of which he was president. He was a member of the Bessemer Planning Commission, the Bessemer Municipal Authority, chairman of the Lawrence County Borough’s Association, and treasurer of the Mohawk Bicentennial Celebration.
He and his wife Patty, enjoyed attending the theater in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and enjoyed many years as season ticket patrons of the Westminster College Celebrity Series and the New Castle Playhouse. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh sports teams, he always let his family know, “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh!” He loved going to his and his wife’s class reunions. Most of all, he loved to spend time with his family.
Stan is survived by his wife, Patricia (Colucci) Grebenz; daughters Julie (Greg) Rothbardt of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Beth (Michael) Stefano of New Castle, Pa.; brothers Jimmie (Sandra Ashton) Grebenz, Richard (Sharry) Grebenz, and Gary (Robin) Grebenz; and sisters-in law Joan (Gerald) Wyza, Kathie (Becky) Brown, and Sandra (Phillip) Reda. He loved and is loved by his grandchildren, Nicole Orelli, Samuel Rothbardt, George Rothbardt, Caroline Rothbardt and Sarah Stefano and his great-grandsons, Cooper and Jax Kendall. He had countless godchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends who gave him so much happiness in his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sam and Irene Colucci; a brother-in-law, Sam Colucci Jr.; and an infant son.
Donations in Stanley’s honor may be made to the Rise Again Foundation, an organization that raises money to allow people in Western Pennsylvania with a spinal cord injury the chance to reach Beyond Expectations, at here. Stanley firmly believed in this cause and held their mission close to his heart.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at the Terry A. Cunningham Funeral Home, 203 Oak Street, in Bessemer, from the hours of 02:00 to 04:00 p.m. and 07:00 to 09:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, from noon until 12:45 p.m.
A Mass will be conducted at 1 p.m. at the St Anthony Church and Stanley will be laid to rest in the St. Lawrence Cemetery.
