Dave and Camille Genteman are this year’s Granton Fall Festival Honored Grandparents. 
They are shown here with their grandchildren Dakota, Teagan and Kierstin. 
(Submitted photo)

 

This couple said it doesn’t really matter what activity they do with their kids or grandkids; they just enjoy getting to spend time with them.

Dave and Camille Genteman are the 2019 Granton Fall Festival Honored Grandparents.

“Our grandma and grandpa Dave and Camille Genteman deserve to be Honored Grandparents because they make us happy,” wrote their six-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Teagan.

Dave and Camille both grew up on farms, Dave in the Loyal area and Camille in the Willard area.  Dave graduated from Loyal High School and Camille graduated from Greenwood High School.  Each of their families spent time at the Melody Gardens roller-skating rink in Marshfield.

That is where it all began.  Camille asked Dave to couple skate, which he at first declined because he thought she was too young.  Once he figured out from her sister that she was older than he thought, he became more interested.  About three years and many couple skates later, Dave and Camille were married on May 17, 1986.  They currently reside just a few miles south of Granton.

Dave and Camille have four boys: Craig (spouse Amanda), Justin (spouse Megan), Shane (spouse Caity) and Kent,  besides Teagan, they have two other grandchildren: Kierstin, 3; and Dakota, 2 and a half.  All of their children and grandchildren live within about 10 miles from Dave and Camille, which gives them the opportunity to spend a lot of time with their family, something they love to do.

Camille and Dave enjoy sharing their hobbies and interests with their grandkids.  For example, Camille enjoys cross-stitching and Teagan asked her to teach him how to cross-stitch.  Camille was more than happy to oblige.  Last Valentine’s Day Teagan worked with Grandma to make little cross-stitched hearts for his mom and dad.

Dave’s hobbies include working on model cars, rockets, radio-controlled airplanes and radio-controlled steam launch.  Dave said he is helping Teagan start to work on model cars.  Dave owns several antique and classic cars that need to be restored, which will be his retirement projects.  Dave enjoys driving his brother’s 1933 Pierce Arrow in parades and having his grandchildren give out candy.

Dave and Camille also enjoy taking their grandkids to many different events.

The grandkids have been staying overnight at Dave and Camille’s house at least one night per week ever since they were four weeks old.  While at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the kids have many favorite activities.  Dave and Camille have blueberry, raspberry and strawberry plants and apple trees which the kids enjoy.  Teagan wrote in his letter how Grandma and Grandpa help them pick berries.

The kids also love helping Dave and Camille with their animals, including dogs, a steer, a mini horse, peacocks, turkeys, rabbits, pygmy goats and chickens.  They enjoy going on walks with Grandma and Grandpa down the dirt road.  Teagan enjoys when Grandma and Grandpa read him and the other grandkids books and take them to church.  The grandkids also love playing dress-up with Camille’s old necklaces she doesn’t wear.  They enjoy family dinners, campfires with s’mores, swinging and four-wheeler and tractor rides.  A highlight of their overnight time is the special pancakes at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.  They are made with chocolate chip faces and whip cream smiles.

Living close by allows Dave and Camille the opportunity to help out their kids by picking up the grandkids for appointments and picking them up from daycare when the parents’ work schedules get busy.

Camille works to care for the elderly in the community and Teagan enjoys going with her occasionally to visit and cheer up people.  Camille says her clients really enjoy when she brings the grandkids along.

Dave is general manager at Advance Auto parts in Neillsville.  He enjoys when his sons come in to get parts and bring the grandchildren along.

“They truly are the best grandparents we could ask for and we are so lucky to have them,” wrote Teagan.

Dave and Camille and their grandkids will be one of the lead entries in the Granton Fall Festival parade on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.

 

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