Alfred C. Grau, 82, passed away Friday, September 21, 2012, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. The Reverend Kurt Kaiser will officiate with burial to follow in Morgan Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Monday, September 24, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa.

Alfred Carl Grau was born January 25, 1930, in Carroll, Iowa, to Magda (Holm) Grau and Emil Grau Sr. He grew up on the Grau family farm northeast of Manning where he attended Ewoldt No. 2 country school and Manning high school. Al was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church.

On June 22, 1952, Al was united in marriage to JoAnn Kathleen Roennau. The couple made their home on the south farm in Manning where they farmed until JoAnn and Al moved to Denison and purchased their first family home. Al then worked for Premanson's Manufacturing until he ventured into the world of truck driving. He then took a job with the Manilla Egg Company.

Al started to work at Denison Bottling Company as a Dr. Pepper and Coca Cola salesman where he worked for 21 years serving the Denison community. During this time Al also worked at Standard Fertilizing Plant driving a truck for his longtime friend John Hogan, and later worked part-time at Porter Oil for Elmer Rothe as well as Crouse Cartage. When the bottling plant was sold Al began working at Farmland Foods where he worked in the sanitation department until his retirement. Throughout Al's working career he gained many wonderful friendships and cherished his friends dearly.

Al and JoAnn were blessed with five children, David Grau of Aurelia, Dawn Jessen of Denison, Douglas Grau and his wife Lauri of Vienna, Virginia, Randy Grau and his wife Susan of San Diego, California, and Donovan Grau and his wife Susan of Sioux City, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Al is also survived by his siblings, Leora Nemecek of Omaha, Nebraska; Rose Collins of Chicago, Illinois; Louise Troeh of Chicago, Illinois; Irwin Grau of Lawton; and Thomas Grau of Manning. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, JoAnn; and a brother, Emil Grau.

Arrangements are entrusted to Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home in Ida Grove. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenhuffman.com.