James Griebling

James W. (Jim) Griebling, formerly of Mason City, Iowa, died peacefully on Saturday, September 9, 2006, at Pequot Lakes, MN following a brief battle with cancer.
Jim was born July 12, 1913, the only child of William H. and Ida E. Griebling of Mason City. After graduating from Mason City High School, he subsequently opened an oil station and ice cream shop. Jim married Wilma Arlene Mellang of Mason City on July 2, 1938. They had three children: James Tomas Griebling, Jana Louise Griebling Root, and Tomas Lindor Griebling, MD.

After passing his civil service examinations, Jim sold his business and joined the U.S. Postal Service. He worked as a letter carrier in Mason City and Rockwell, Iowa for nearly 40 years. Jim was very active in the labor relations movement, and served in several leadership roles. In 1953, he helped establish the Iowa Federation of Labor Scholarship Program, and he twice chaired the Iowa State Letter Carriers Convention. Jim was frequently elected an Iowa delegate to the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) conventions, and he was named the NALC national delegate to the AFL-CIO for fourteen years. In local Branch 471, he served as both President and Steward. He was named to the Iowa Chapter of the NALC Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the NALC 60-year membership award in 1996.

Jim was elected to eight consecutive terms as President of the Mason City Trades and Labor Assembly, continuing in the tradition of his father who had been the organizations founding President. He served as President of the Rockwell Lions Club, President of the Government Employees Credit Union, and was a founding charter member of the Trades and Labor (now North Iowa Community) Credit Union.

In 1952, Jim was appointed by President Harry S. Truman as the labor representative on the U.S. Selective Service Appeal Board for the Northern Federal Judicial District of Iowa. He served on the Board for 20 years. Following his retirement from the U.S. Postal Service in 1976, Jim worked as a driver for the Easter Seal Society of North Iowa and as a mail clerk at First Interstate Bank of Mason City.

Jims favorite hobby was woodworking, a skill he learned from his father who had been a master carpenter. He also enjoyed reading, coin-collecting, and traveling with his family.

In July 2003, Jim and Wilma moved to Kansas City to be closer to their youngest son. Most recently, he lived with his eldest son in Minnesota and Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife and parents. Survivors include his children James Tomas Griebling, and his wife, Phyllis, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, and La Feria, Texas; Jana Louise Griebling Root, and her husband, Dennis, of Mason City, Iowa; and Tomas Lindor Griebling, MD, of Shawnee, Kansas; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

A community memorial breakfast was held in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota on Monday, September 11th. A public memorial gathering and luncheon is planned at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 16th, at Marjories Tea House, 302 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Jims honor to the National Association of Letter Carriers William C. Doherty College Scholarship Fund, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144; or Heritage House Care Center of Pequot Lakes, 5384 Country Care Lane, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.

Per Jims longstanding wish, his body has been donated as an anatomical gift to the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa. Local arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel, 7348 Excelsior Road, Baxter/Brainerd, MN 56401