Verna “Renee” D. Gregory, 89, Glendale, AZ

September 2, 1925 - August 15, 2015

Verna “Renee” Delores Gregory, age 89, formerly of St. Cloud, MN, passed away peacefully at her daughters home in Glendale, AZ on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

Funeral services will be Friday, September 4, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the church on Friday. Interment will be in North Star Cemetery, St. Cloud, MN. Arrangements with Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.

Renee was born September 2, 1925 in St. Cloud, MN to George and Clara (Katzner) Conrad. She graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1942. Renee worked at Weidner’s Plumbing until her marriage to Kenneth Gregory in April 1948.

Renee and Ken raised 11 children on 23rd Ave. S. in St. Cloud. In 1964 she began working at the Germain Hotel. When the Germain closed she worked at the Anchor Inn in Waite Park. Renee also worked at Northern Refrigeration and was store manager at South Side Grocery Store until her retirement in 1987. In 2000 she went back to work for Granite City Pawn Shop and worked until she was 88 years old, retiring only to move to Arizona. Renee was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, St. Cloud VFW Post #4847 Auxiliary, Waite Park American Legion Post #428 Auxiliary.

Renee loved to read, paint, play scrabble, words with friends, crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed traveling, especially road trips. Renee traveled thousands of miles with her children and grandchildren. At the age of 60 she backpacked Europe for a month. Her bags were always packed and ready to go! Renee had a wonderful sense of adventure, a great sense of humor and a quick wit. Renee will always be remembered for her spirit and love of a party. She loved spending time with her family most of all

Left to cherish her memory are sons and daughters, Jeani (Ed Cooney) Kowitz, Glendale, AZ; Richard (Bay) Gregory, St. Paul, MN; Barb Gregory, Glendale, AZ; Carol (Fred) Duke, Burtrum, MN; James (Kim) Gregory, Willow River, MN; Mary (Wayne) Laudenbach, St. Augusta, MN; Brian (Debbie Schlangen) Gregory, Cold Spring, MN; Jeff Gregory, St. Cloud, MN; Mark Gregory, South Haven, MN; Lori (Lee) Ebhert, Colorado Springs, CO; 13 grandchildren, James Kowitz, Joni Pettice, Lee, Scott, James, Tony, Ben and Bailey Gregory, Tyler and Daniel Laudenbach, Amy Ronyak, Devin Gall and Eric Chaika; 8 great grandchildren; brothers, Melvin Conrad, St. Cloud, MN; Frank (Janet) Conrad, Dilworth, MN; sister, Lavonne Castagneri, St. Cloud, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Kenneth on January 30, 2001, son, John on December 10, 2013, grandson, Sean Duke in 1991; brothers, John and Harvey Conrad.