Grantley H. Berringer

September 16, 2009 10:08 am

Grantley H. Berringer, 89, of Tamalpais, Calif., died Sept. 8, 2009.

Grantly attended Lunenburg Academy, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, before immigrating to the U.S. with his mother. He graduated from San Rafael High School in 1941. He met his wife-to-be Marian Mathiasen and began courting.

Grantley enlisted in the U.S. Army as a tech. sgt. aerial engineer in the 98th Troop Carrier Squadron. He served in the European theater U.S. Normandy, Southern and Northern France, Ardennes, Central Europe, Rhineland, Rome, and European African Middle Eastern campaign.

After his honorable discharge Grantley married Marian Mathiasen in 1946. They lived in in San Geronimo, Calif., before moving to San Rafael, Calif., where they lived the next 44 years.  

He was employed as a  mechanic for many years and retired from Campbell Bishop Chevrolet in Corte Madera, Calif.

After he retired he built many boats and ship models. He was an excellent craftsman, fisherman and abalone diver. Grantley and Marian’s great love was camping in Bodega Bay, Calif., and traveling in their motorhome throughout the U.S. and  Canada.

Grantley and Marian moved to Harbor in 1991, and spent 15 wonderful years there. After Marian’s death in 2006, Grantley moved back to Marin County  to be closer to his family. He lived at Tamalpais Creek Retirement Villa.

He is survived by his daughter Catherine Lago  and her husband Carl of Novato, Calif.; sons Grantley Berringer and his wife Elaine of Clearlake Oaks, Calif.,  Michael Berringer of San Rafael, Calif.; sister-in-law Joan Mack  and her husband Don of Novato, and their two children; cousin Marcia Kelley of Marinwood, Calif. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many cousins in western and eastern Canada, and extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by Marian, his wife of 60 years; and his daughter Susan Berringer-Jordon.

The family wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Welter and the staffs of Novato Community Hospital and Tamalpais Creek Retirement Villa for their love and care of their father.

 A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Submitted by the family.