Loui I read what your family  wrote and I can agree. Your where hard to get to know but once we see how you cared and shared your life with us and how amazing you where. I enjoyed coming to your house and learning things and helping you with things. Miss working with you and I know you are up there and keeping a place for us once again to share time with you.

Paul, Bill, Pat and the Pastor,

Thank you for a wonderful service and creating a moment of deep reflection!  The stories you each shared of Louie, the lessons you took from him, and the love he shared with the world around him were fantastic.  It was a moving tribute to Louie and his legend!  

Paul


Louie, 
We miss you!  Your trips back here to Minnesota were always great with trips to those special spots such as Red Savoys and  Boca Chica.  Jim, Jean, and I devoured this Red Savoy special this week in your honor. The picnic jalapeño poppers were legendary! 
Your fine dining buddies forever!
Dave and Jean

There is a lot about trips to Minnesota that I don’t remember. We went so many times, so many years ago, so many memories blur together. So many hours riding on i90 in the Suburban with my mom, so many hours spent sitting on the back deck on Poplar street. So many slices of pizza at Savoy.

I do remember trips to Savoy. The original Savoy Inn in downtown St Paul. I remember Savoy being a non negotiable for Uncle Louie. We were going to Savoy. I remember toppings under the cheese, the translucent red cups, the icy cold sodas. I remember Louie’s insistence that we have another slice, and that the sodas be refilled. No one was going to leave hungry on his watch. I’ll always remember the Original Savoy Inn.  

When I visited St Paul last September with my girlfriend, visiting Savoy was a non negotiable. We were going to Savoy. I was saddened to find the original Savoy Inn had been shuttered, to realize I’d never again devour pie in the dimly lit dining room. I never would have guessed it was a chain as a kid. When we finally settled down in a franchise location, brightly lit, rewards program banner on the wall, with soda served in sealed 20oz bottles, I found some comfort when at least the pizza seemed the same as I remember. This time it was me insisting on another slice.

I remember my first time in a go kart. A trip to a race track near St Paul that I remember as being organized by Uncle Louie. Does anyone else remember that trip? The only one I took to a race track with my uncle, one of so many for him. I remember I wasn’t tall enough to reach the pedals so I had to ride as a passenger. I don’t even remember who the driver was, was it Uncle Louie? I do remember the thrill of speed, of wind in my face, of engines screaming.  I remember the allure of the even larger and faster karts that Uncle Louie and my older cousins got to drive, smiling and laughing as they exited the track. I’ll always remember the thrill of speed.

I’ll always remember my Uncle Louie.


Great memories with Louie at talledaga with the crew, once in a lifetime experience, and we’ll miss the bacon wrapped jalapeños at the picnic.
RIP Louie

Longboat key FL (Rick, Cindy, Adrienne, Pat, Louie)

2016 at The Masters in Augusta (Louie, Pete, Rosie)

2016 at The Masters in Augusta (Pete & Rosie Morin, Louie, Pat)

Louie agreed to be in my wedding party in 1977

I met Louis through a mutual friend, Tony Formosa. Louis starting working on my cars and he, Tom Perkins, Daryl Garvin, Randy Parker, Tim Gwinnett become a literal brotherhood. Those were some of my best memories . We learned so much and Louie was our leader. We won races stayed up working all hours , eating at Waffle House at 2 am. He was an awesome super intelligent person. He had a profound impact on all of us.


Here's a photo from our first communion at St. Mark's in St. Paul,  Minnesota.  Besides being in the same grade together at St. Mark's,  we also lived next door to each other. I remember really well how even in first grade Louie loved cars and he  glued together a collection of them, models,  for display in his bedroom.   I'm sorry for your loss.

 This picture was taken on my wedding day in 2007.  A few minutes before this picture he told me not to mess this up ( in his best advice voice) The fact I even made it to this day was because of the man standing next to me.  My story and many more are countless because of Louie.  He hired me 22 years ago and I am still here today because of the love of the pawn business he taught me. His generosity and wit were unmatched and I am glad he was put in my life.  He will be missed by so many and I have so many prayers for his family. I hope he knows that almost 16 years after this picture later I didn’t mess it up! Heaven gained an angel and I know he’s with good company. 

I met Louie when he became the DM in Atlanta for Cash America. What started as a working relationship grew in to a friendship. The compassion and generosity I saw from him was amazing. He was an angel on earth. He took the time and his money to help a single mother of three who was going through a very rough time. He made sure she had a roof over her head, money for food and helped guide her through the various agencies to get her help. 

Other times I saw him drive to a shop to change brakes for an employee who couldn’t afford to take the car to the shop. 

There were multiple times where he helped me with my car and taught me how to do basic maintenance such as brake work. We may have lost him here but we’ll always have the memories. Rest in peace Louie, because of your kindness and compassion you made an indelible mark on many people. 

I met Louie so many years ago. We worked together at Cash America. He was so kind and so smart. He always had people around him laughing. He was an incredible mentor for many. Always wanting to help someone out in any way. He was generous, funny, sweet, thoughtful and kind. I am so sad for all of us that he is no longer here physically.  I know he influenced many people in his lifetime as I witnessed it and was a part of it. So many of us who lost track of Louie over the years still talk about him with very fond memories and stories of laughter. He was loved by so many people that were a part of his life’s story. To his family, my heart hurts for you. As a colleague, he was an incredible human. He was so proud of his family. Heaven gained an angel. 

Brenda and family, sorry for your loss. I have alot of memories with Louis and the Frideley family. May your love and memories sustain you in the difficult days ahead. Love and prayers. 

I’ll never forget hanging out in the garage with Louis,Thomas and several of our friends. many nights wrenching on cars and telling us stories. He taught me and several of us young men everything from mechanics to life advice. Nights at the drag strip racing his Camaro to the dirt track with the late model . He could fabricate, fix, or repair anything with a wheel. He was a great friend and father figure that  I needed and glad to have had! I’m going to miss you Louis and all the great memories. My heart goes out to my best friend Thomas and his family , Paul ,Laura and Brenda . I’m sorry for your loss heaven gained a one of a kind man .we’re going to miss that humor and most of all that big grin!!. RIP Louis….. and God speed 

I meet Lou in 1995 through our shared interest in racing. We hit it off and became close friends. We worked hard on preparing cars for competition and had pretty good success. We also found time to enjoy a great meal, go see a good band at a local bar, or just discuss things going on in our lives. He was a few years older than me, and had a little more “life” experience that helped guide me through some tough times. He had many sayings about various topics. In racing we used” it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission” often. 
The character Gibbs on NCIS reminds me of Lou. I’m going to miss his visits to Nashville and going to Bourbon St in Printers Alley with him. 
Lou, till we meet again, thanks for all you have done for me. 

The earliest stories I remember Louie telling began when we were housed in adjacent bedrooms down the back hallway on Dayton.   They started with knock, knock, or, you awake?  If the hall light was on, we were cleared to talk.  If it was off we were supposed to pipe down. I hope our dad had to laugh through his admonishments as much as we did. Thank you, Louie.

He was Uncle Louie, he was there for the majority of my life. Army buds with my dad. I will always remember him. Go fast Uncle Louie...

Stories of Louie are legendary and I had the great fortune to make a couple life memories with him. 

His attendance at the Gray family picnic was always a highlight. His jalepeno poppers made those accustomed to ‘MN spicy’ start to glow, and his ensuing grin was priceless. He was also part of the last great volleyball competition, helping the nieces and nephews destroy the ‘famed’ team composed only of the Gray brothers.  Louie could say next to nothing, but it was enough to stoke the rivalries between the brothers in their defeat. 

His rescue of Maya, our beloved family cat, a cruise with him on his Indian, and his smile are all gems I will never forget. 

My condolences to the Grau family. Louie is a legend!

- Paul and the Dunbar family

To Louie’s family in Texas and places beyond…so sorry for your loss…brother, husband, father and grandfather and cousin❤️ I always enjoyed my visits with Louie when we happened to be in Minnesota at the same time. I will miss him.
Love and prayers ,
Mary (Schultz) Spero 
Cousin

I have worked with Louie since he arrived for us at Pawn Kimg. His wit and sarcastic humor will be missed. I will miss his buzzer noise the most when you said the incorrect statement for an answer. Louie had a great heart and shared with all the people he met. I will remember dinners at his house and setting up his race car game so he could teach us more about nascar. Hope to see you in years Louie when we met again. 

John Green

My condolence to the Grau family. Louis is the reason I have been in the pawn industry for over 32 years! He hired me in 1991 in Nashville based off of a friend recommendation.  We kept in touch for years. When he would visit Nashville, he'd call asking if I wanted to hang with him at a Printer's Alley Blues joint. He was like one of the best uncle figures ever! Much love and respect!

OBITUARY

Louis Daniel Grau

February 14, 1956 – December 28, 2022

Hillcrest Funeral Home

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