Charles P Grabill

Charles P. Grabill Jr. of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away August 3, 2012.

Charles was born May 31, 1919 on his father's homestead property in Lost Lake, Montana near the Canadian border area. The local schools he attended were Grabill and Rocky Ridge. In 1929 the family moved on to Compton, California, where his paternal grandparents, John Bressler and Sarah (Landers) Grabill lived. In 1930 the family settled into the city of El Segundo, California along the Pacific coast.

Charles attended the local schools through his educational upbringing and established his credentials as an honor student, president of the Spanish class, and member of the Scholarship Society. His class nickname in the 1937 senior yearbook was 'Sloppy Goblin'. By the age of fifteen Charles had developed his zest for Biblical knowledge and could not be detoured from hitchhiking from El Segundo to Hawthorne each weekend to experience the power of his new found faith.

In Texas at the age of 21, Charles married Helen May Rogers. By 1942 they were living and working on a ranch in Colorado before relocating to Lincoln, Nebraska where Charles joined the school community of Union College. He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts, having completed the rigors of a math major. As part of the program he taught to the academy students then located on the Union College campus.

Charles apprenticed as an electrician with Cobleigh Electric across the street from Union College behind the 'Chat 'N Nibble'. After learning the electrical trade he established Grabill Electric Service in 1952 and continued in the business for five decades.

In 1964 Charles married Fern Lillian Shetlar Wise. In 1968 they adopted a baby girl, naming her Charlene Fern Grabill. This last addition brought their combined family to nine children.

Charles and Fern were active participants in their association with Piedmont Park Seventh Day Adventist Church. Charles became a deacon to his congregation in the late 1970's. They were very active in youth groups and outreach to the community at large. Charles was one of the participants to assist in the construction of the Piedmont Park Seventh Day Adventist Church facilities and a faithful member in the cleanup or maintenance of the property. In the mid 1980's they took a local leave and traveled to several states performing electrical installations for churches. They also enjoyed traveling to assist the building of schools and churches in less prosperous communities domestically or out of this country providing further witness of their faith and commitment to others through the Maranatha trips they undertook.

Charles is survived by four children, Chuck, Colorado; Roger, (Donna) California; Richard (Kim) Grabill, Oregon; Charlene (Alan) Johnson, Lincoln. Also seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. His dear sister, Pauline Davis, California, is the last survivor of his siblings. A number of nieces, a nephew and other related individuals remain to mourn our loss along with a large community of friends and associates. Surviving step children are, Gerald (Barbara), Cleo (Edith), all of Kansas; Dale (Janelle), Nebraska; and Gordon (Gail) Wise, Colorado. These grandchildren number thirty-five, and great grandchildren sixteen.
Charles was predeceased by his parents, C. Paul and Irene (Dillon) Grabill, wives, Helen M. Rogers, Fern Lillian Shetlar (Wise) Grabill, brothers Max Dillon, Dwight Winfred, Maurice, Stanley Grabill, and one son, David Jarel Grabill.

Memorials can be given to the Piedmont Park Seventh Day Adventist Church Building/Roof Fund in memory of Charles P Grabill Jr.