Wilfred "Bill" Grein stepped into the loving arms of his savior, Jesus, September 28, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas after a lengthy illness due to complications of stroke. He was 73.
Bill was a renown photographer, songwriter, teacher, preacher, and beloved husband to Jesus Music legend Janny Grein. He traveled the world with Janny, proclaiming the "Goodnews" of the Gospel to whoever would listen. His impact on the globe can not be estimated. His quirky sense-of-humor and infectious smile is greatly missed.
A close friend of Bill and Janny's memorialized Bill this way:
"Bill Grein had a way of seeing people.
When I was a young singer, he went out of his way to become my mentor and friend.
It was a strange combination. At first glance, he appeared to be a burly-bearded, dope-smoking hippie who wore blue-jean overalls with tennis shoes. I was a naïve, Pentecostal hillbilly teenager who felt like I didn’t belong much of anywhere …much less on stage.
But two things pulled us together when I discovered that Bill was a world-savvy photographer extraordinaire: the creative process of photography and writing. We loved them both.
I also fell in love with his young sons, Tom and Sam. Bill allowed me to follow after him on photo shoots; he said I had a good eye. I soon learned that he was a great photographer who captured amazing Kodak moments. He saw the huge canvas, and I learned to spot the details (lipstick on teeth, etc.). The finished product was a work of art.
Inevitably his boys would be in tow, hauling an extra tripod or light reflector. They were small, but would never admit the equipment was heavy- they huffed and puffed and got the job done. They loved helping dad.
My parents, Buck and Dottie Rambo, adored Bill, and somehow he managed to bring out the most patient and loving side of my folks.
We would all sit in our kitchen for hours, eating Mom's cathead biscuits with sausage gravy and sipping coffee while discussing the deep questions about God. Bill would ask, “Who made God” and “if God is real why all the bad stuff in the world?” The discussions were endless.
One hot summer day he showed up shirtless; a mountain-man clad only in his bib overalls and sandals …Mom acted like he had on a tux. He would tell me, “Your family’s table may be the safest place in the world. You can ask any question and nobody beats you up or makes you feel stupid.”
Bill Grein was anything but stupid – rather, he was brilliant. He loved to shock people. Once, I watched as he waltzed into black-tie affair looking like Grizzly Adams. The brave souls who approached him with a grin became his lifelong friends. It was his way of weeding out the posers.
Even in his "pre-Jesus" days, close friends knew he was a big teddy-bear in disguise. On the inside, he was a seeker who knew a God worth serving could stand up to his infinite questions.
When Bill and Janny first met, it was obviously love-at-first-sight. There were fireworks! But when they both experienced and surrendered to the real Jesus; the Kingdom of Heaven exploded into limitless dancing praise. I don’t know two people who complimented each other more.
I remember one day when she was extremely frustrated with him (probably rightfully so): she was ranting and all the while giving forth a message. I held my breath with a twinkle in my eye. Bill just laughed and laughed …never tried to defend himself. She finally hit him with her dinner napkin and started laughing hysterically too. It was epic.
Today, they dance together in abandoned joy. They see it all clearly …I’m so jealous." ~ Reba Rambo-McGuire
Bill was a renown photographer, songwriter, teacher, preacher, and beloved husband to Jesus Music legend Janny Grein. He traveled the world with Janny, proclaiming the "Goodnews" of the Gospel to whoever would listen. His impact on the globe can not be estimated. His quirky sense-of-humor and infectious smile is greatly missed.
A close friend of Bill and Janny's memorialized Bill this way:
"Bill Grein had a way of seeing people.
When I was a young singer, he went out of his way to become my mentor and friend.
It was a strange combination. At first glance, he appeared to be a burly-bearded, dope-smoking hippie who wore blue-jean overalls with tennis shoes. I was a naïve, Pentecostal hillbilly teenager who felt like I didn’t belong much of anywhere …much less on stage.
But two things pulled us together when I discovered that Bill was a world-savvy photographer extraordinaire: the creative process of photography and writing. We loved them both.
I also fell in love with his young sons, Tom and Sam. Bill allowed me to follow after him on photo shoots; he said I had a good eye. I soon learned that he was a great photographer who captured amazing Kodak moments. He saw the huge canvas, and I learned to spot the details (lipstick on teeth, etc.). The finished product was a work of art.
Inevitably his boys would be in tow, hauling an extra tripod or light reflector. They were small, but would never admit the equipment was heavy- they huffed and puffed and got the job done. They loved helping dad.
My parents, Buck and Dottie Rambo, adored Bill, and somehow he managed to bring out the most patient and loving side of my folks.
We would all sit in our kitchen for hours, eating Mom's cathead biscuits with sausage gravy and sipping coffee while discussing the deep questions about God. Bill would ask, “Who made God” and “if God is real why all the bad stuff in the world?” The discussions were endless.
One hot summer day he showed up shirtless; a mountain-man clad only in his bib overalls and sandals …Mom acted like he had on a tux. He would tell me, “Your family’s table may be the safest place in the world. You can ask any question and nobody beats you up or makes you feel stupid.”
Bill Grein was anything but stupid – rather, he was brilliant. He loved to shock people. Once, I watched as he waltzed into black-tie affair looking like Grizzly Adams. The brave souls who approached him with a grin became his lifelong friends. It was his way of weeding out the posers.
Even in his "pre-Jesus" days, close friends knew he was a big teddy-bear in disguise. On the inside, he was a seeker who knew a God worth serving could stand up to his infinite questions.
When Bill and Janny first met, it was obviously love-at-first-sight. There were fireworks! But when they both experienced and surrendered to the real Jesus; the Kingdom of Heaven exploded into limitless dancing praise. I don’t know two people who complimented each other more.
I remember one day when she was extremely frustrated with him (probably rightfully so): she was ranting and all the while giving forth a message. I held my breath with a twinkle in my eye. Bill just laughed and laughed …never tried to defend himself. She finally hit him with her dinner napkin and started laughing hysterically too. It was epic.
Today, they dance together in abandoned joy. They see it all clearly …I’m so jealous." ~ Reba Rambo-McGuire
Wilfred "Bill" Grein stepped into the loving arms of his savior, Jesus, September 28, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas after a lengthy illness due to complications of stroke. He was 73.
Bill was a renown photographer, songwriter, teacher, preacher, and beloved husband to Jesus Music legend Janny Grein. He traveled the world with Janny, proclaiming the "Goodnews" of the Gospel to whoever would listen. His impact on the globe can not be estimated. His quirky sense-of-humor and infectious smile is greatly missed.
A close friend of Bill and Janny's memorialized Bill this way:
"Bill Grein had a way of seeing people.
When I was a young singer, he went out of his way to become my mentor and friend.
It was a strange combination. At first glance, he appeared to be a burly-bearded, dope-smoking hippie who wore blue-jean overalls with tennis shoes. I was a naïve, Pentecostal hillbilly teenager who felt like I didn’t belong much of anywhere …much less on stage.
But two things pulled us together when I discovered that Bill was a world-savvy photographer extraordinaire: the creative process of photography and writing. We loved them both.
I also fell in love with his young sons, Tom and Sam. Bill allowed me to follow after him on photo shoots; he said I had a good eye. I soon learned that he was a great photographer who captured amazing Kodak moments. He saw the huge canvas, and I learned to spot the details (lipstick on teeth, etc.). The finished product was a work of art.
Inevitably his boys would be in tow, hauling an extra tripod or light reflector. They were small, but would never admit the equipment was heavy- they huffed and puffed and got the job done. They loved helping dad.
My parents, Buck and Dottie Rambo, adored Bill, and somehow he managed to bring out the most patient and loving side of my folks.
We would all sit in our kitchen for hours, eating Mom's cathead biscuits with sausage gravy and sipping coffee while discussing the deep questions about God. Bill would ask, “Who made God” and “if God is real why all the bad stuff in the world?” The discussions were endless.
One hot summer day he showed up shirtless; a mountain-man clad only in his bib overalls and sandals …Mom acted like he had on a tux. He would tell me, “Your family’s table may be the safest place in the world. You can ask any question and nobody beats you up or makes you feel stupid.”
Bill Grein was anything but stupid – rather, he was brilliant. He loved to shock people. Once, I watched as he waltzed into black-tie affair looking like Grizzly Adams. The brave souls who approached him with a grin became his lifelong friends. It was his way of weeding out the posers.
Even in his "pre-Jesus" days, close friends knew he was a big teddy-bear in disguise. On the inside, he was a seeker who knew a God worth serving could stand up to his infinite questions.
When Bill and Janny first met, it was obviously love-at-first-sight. There were fireworks! But when they both experienced and surrendered to the real Jesus; the Kingdom of Heaven exploded into limitless dancing praise. I don’t know two people who complimented each other more.
I remember one day when she was extremely frustrated with him (probably rightfully so): she was ranting and all the while giving forth a message. I held my breath with a twinkle in my eye. Bill just laughed and laughed …never tried to defend himself. She finally hit him with her dinner napkin and started laughing hysterically too. It was epic.
Today, they dance together in abandoned joy. They see it all clearly …I’m so jealous." ~ Reba Rambo-McGuire
Bill was a renown photographer, songwriter, teacher, preacher, and beloved husband to Jesus Music legend Janny Grein. He traveled the world with Janny, proclaiming the "Goodnews" of the Gospel to whoever would listen. His impact on the globe can not be estimated. His quirky sense-of-humor and infectious smile is greatly missed.
A close friend of Bill and Janny's memorialized Bill this way:
"Bill Grein had a way of seeing people.
When I was a young singer, he went out of his way to become my mentor and friend.
It was a strange combination. At first glance, he appeared to be a burly-bearded, dope-smoking hippie who wore blue-jean overalls with tennis shoes. I was a naïve, Pentecostal hillbilly teenager who felt like I didn’t belong much of anywhere …much less on stage.
But two things pulled us together when I discovered that Bill was a world-savvy photographer extraordinaire: the creative process of photography and writing. We loved them both.
I also fell in love with his young sons, Tom and Sam. Bill allowed me to follow after him on photo shoots; he said I had a good eye. I soon learned that he was a great photographer who captured amazing Kodak moments. He saw the huge canvas, and I learned to spot the details (lipstick on teeth, etc.). The finished product was a work of art.
Inevitably his boys would be in tow, hauling an extra tripod or light reflector. They were small, but would never admit the equipment was heavy- they huffed and puffed and got the job done. They loved helping dad.
My parents, Buck and Dottie Rambo, adored Bill, and somehow he managed to bring out the most patient and loving side of my folks.
We would all sit in our kitchen for hours, eating Mom's cathead biscuits with sausage gravy and sipping coffee while discussing the deep questions about God. Bill would ask, “Who made God” and “if God is real why all the bad stuff in the world?” The discussions were endless.
One hot summer day he showed up shirtless; a mountain-man clad only in his bib overalls and sandals …Mom acted like he had on a tux. He would tell me, “Your family’s table may be the safest place in the world. You can ask any question and nobody beats you up or makes you feel stupid.”
Bill Grein was anything but stupid – rather, he was brilliant. He loved to shock people. Once, I watched as he waltzed into black-tie affair looking like Grizzly Adams. The brave souls who approached him with a grin became his lifelong friends. It was his way of weeding out the posers.
Even in his "pre-Jesus" days, close friends knew he was a big teddy-bear in disguise. On the inside, he was a seeker who knew a God worth serving could stand up to his infinite questions.
When Bill and Janny first met, it was obviously love-at-first-sight. There were fireworks! But when they both experienced and surrendered to the real Jesus; the Kingdom of Heaven exploded into limitless dancing praise. I don’t know two people who complimented each other more.
I remember one day when she was extremely frustrated with him (probably rightfully so): she was ranting and all the while giving forth a message. I held my breath with a twinkle in my eye. Bill just laughed and laughed …never tried to defend himself. She finally hit him with her dinner napkin and started laughing hysterically too. It was epic.
Today, they dance together in abandoned joy. They see it all clearly …I’m so jealous." ~ Reba Rambo-McGuire
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