Grenier, Helen

Helen Grenier - age: 95
(May 31, 1917 to August 15, 2012 )
Resident of Redwood Valley, California

Obituary:
Helen (Wisnoski, Bratkovic) Grenier, 95, of Redwood Valley went to heaven peacefully on August 15, 2012, with her family at her side at Ukiah Valley Medical Center. She was born Helen Wisnoski May 31, 1917 in Coello, IL, a small mining village in southern Illinois, to John and Teckla Wisnoski.
Helen moved to Chicago, IL at age 17 with her sister Nancy, to work in a bobby pin factory during the war. She met and married Joe Bratkovic for 26 years, settling in Beverly Shores, IN with their two children, Carol and Robert. She took a typing class at night, and became the Circulation Manager for Neil Ruzic’s Industrial Research Magazine for several years.
In 1968 she decided to pick up and drive to Anaheim, CA. She worked for Smith Tool Company, and immediately became “the best torque wrench calibrator they ever had.” She also met and married Donald Grenier, and they retired in Bodfish, CA. She was an active community member for 22 years, with the Moose Lodge, Disabled Veterans, Red Hats, First Baptist Church, senior aerobics, and she especially enjoyed her line dancing class with friends every week.
She really loved being a world traveler – all over Western Europe, Hawaii, the Holy Land, and back and forth across the United States.
Helen moved to Redwood Valley three years ago with her daughter Carol Dicks and three grandsons, Willie Dicks Jr., Abraham Dicks, and Jonah Porter. She is also survived by her son Robert Bratkovic of Chesterfield, MO, great granddaughter Adrianna Dicks of Augusta, GA, brother & sister-in-law Mike and Irene Wisnoski of Sesser, IL, sister-in-law Elizabeth Wines of Corona, CA, and many loving nieces and nephews who often referred to her as their hero.
Her interment will be October 29, 2012. The family will take her to join her late husband Donald Grenier at the Riverside National Cemetery.
All arrangements were entrusted to the care of Eversole Mortuary in Ukiah, CA.