Obituary of Helmut Grau

Helmut "Hemmy" Grau, 95, of Newton, NJ, passed away October 16th, 2021 surrounded by his loving wife and family. Hemmy was born in Pforzheim, Germany on February 12th, 1926 and immigrated with his family to the US at the age of 2. Hemmy is a veteran of World War II, serving in the army. He was in a cannon company in the 417 Infantry Regiment of the 76th Infantry Division, which fought as a part of Patton's Third Army in Central Europe. On June 21st, 1952, Hemmy married the love of his life, Dorothy "Dot" Jane Squire. Hemmy and Dot lived in Succasunna, NJ from 1959 to 2014 in the home he built for his family. He owned his own construction and home building business with his brother, Erich Grau, building many homes throughout the area. He bonded with and taught many skills to each of his three sons while building homes during their high school and college years. He had a passion for skiing, which he passed on to his sons and grandchildren. Skiing was a source of fun for him, but most meaningfully, an opportunity for connection with his children and family. He also spent much time in Beach Haven, NJ with his family, where he owned a beach house that is dearly remembered by all. Hemmy and Dot made the Beach Haven home a center and grounding place for the family as the three boys grew up and then as wives and grandchildren joined the family. There are many fond memories skiing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with the entire extended family as well as many beach vacations in Beach Haven. He had a knack for repairing things, always making sure everyone had a bike to ride, a basket to crab off the pier with, and maintaining the home for the family to stay at. Hemmy showed his love through action. Most importantly, Hemmy was known as a loving, faithful, and loyal husband and father. He left behind his wife, Dorothy Grau, of 69 years, having never left her side, and their sons, Thomas Grau, John (Jeanne) Grau, Stephen (Jennifer) Grau, his siblings, Erich Grau and Marjorie Woetzel, and grandchildren, James (Erin) Grau, Robert (Angela) Grau, Stephen Grau, Brian Grau, William (Erin) Grau, Lisa Grau and Meghan Grau, as well as his great grandchildren, Matilda Grau and Francesca Grau. Hemmy was predeceased by his brother Walter Grau, sister Waltraud "Nickie" (Grau) Gebert. He is deeply loved and dearly missed by his family and will be remembered for all he shared with his family, including his love of apple pie. A Time for Everything There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, A time to search and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away, A time to tear and a time to mend, A time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 A private memorial service was held for family on October 19th, 2021. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home of Landing, NJ.