TIMOTHY GRAPENGIESER
March 17, 1946 - April 26, 2023
Obituary
Timothy John Grapengieser entered the door of his eternal home on April 26, 2023. His passion for life will always be celebrated. He fought many health issues for the last 13 years and always adapted his life's story to enjoy every moment he had to be with family, friends, and whomever he met during his adventure of life.
Tim was born an identical twin on March 17, 1946, and grew up in Appleton. He and his brother Terry were the 5th and 6th children in their family, and Tim always reminded everyone he was older than Terry.
He moved to Neenah when he met “my wife the love of my life” Sharon Chitwood. They were married on May 27, 1972 at First English, Appleton with a very musical service. As music was very important throughout their marriage, Tim's life will be celebrated with music as well.
In 1981 Tim became a father for the first time and that was a major celebration. A second son was born in 1987 which warranted another major celebration. Tim's sons Jonathan and Nicholas have filled Tim's life with unbelievable joy and adventure.
Tim enjoyed conversation (or talking) so much he worked in the radio business at WNAM and WBAY; as a liquor salesman for Fox Valley Liquor; and as an industrial fittings salesman for I Bahcall and Columbia Pipe and Steel during his life adventure.
He was an avid musky fisherman and so he had to have a cottage “up north”. He bought the cottage on Moccasin Lake, Elcho, WI, before he bought a house or had children. This was Tim's “heaven on earth”. The family had the cottage for 48 years and lots of time was spent there.
Tim was also a dog lover and always had beagles named SAM. However, he adopted Duchess, Captain, Barney, Gracie and Gordy (other relatives' dogs) during these last 13 years which brought him lots of joy and they loved Grandpa and his Sandie cookie treats.
Tim also had a love of traveling. He would always talk of East coast travel with high school students, a month-long tour of five countries with high school students, many trips to Fl with the kids, their Nashville trip, his Canada trip with the guys, and travel to TX with friends. But his two most important trips to him were “finding” Otis Redding's home and talking to Otis's relatives; and going to Ireland for two weeks.
Tim could talk forever about many topics, but his favorites were sports, music, movies, trivia, and unfortunately, politics. So often Tim was the last to leave any gathering. He would rather talk to the parents at the kids' events than concentrate on the game. He could talk nonstop about the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers to whomever would listen. When medical trips became part of their life, Tim made lots of doctor, nurse, other patient friends easily because he would do trivia, play his music favorites, and always be an upbeat patient, always trying to talk or sing with them.
The last two years Tim heightened his Christian life by reading, praying, listening to Spiritual modern songs, and lighting an angel every evening and often even during the day. He saw angels and dreamed of angels very often in the last six months. He is now with the angels.
Tim's loving family, pastors, friends, doctors, and Tim himself, hoped for more time. He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon of 51 years; his sons: Jonathan (Katy) and Nicholas; grandchildren: Addison and Rhys; granddog, Louis; identical younger twin brother, Terry (Marge); brother, Chuck (Karen); sister-in-law, Annette and nephew Patrick; brother-in-law, Larry Allard and family; the Chitwood family; nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends. All will miss Tim's laughter and the spark he brought to their lives.
Special thanks to three doctors who traveled these 13 years with Tim and gave him 13 extra years to enjoy life: Dr. Larry Burton, Dr. Nathan Munson, and Dr. Arce (Mayo).
Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Margaret Grapengieser; his in-laws, Richard and Ruby Chitwood; his brothers: Carl and Patrick; his sisters: Eleanor and Jean; and his brother-in-law, Ed Chitwood.
A Celebration of Tim's life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1140 Tullar Rd., Neenah. A visitation will be held at church from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service. The party will continue from 12:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. at Stone Arch Brew Pub, 1004 S. Olde Oneida St., Appleton.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Head, Neck, and/or Prostate Cancer Research, or Gloria Dei Church in Tim's name.