About the Poet

Nettie Grace Greninger Strohm was the ninth child born to John and Caroline(Metz) Greninger on February 28th, 1882 in the Township of Honey Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Her mother died when she was a young girl leaving her father to raise her and her older siblings on the family farm.

On June 7, 1900, at the age of eighteen, she married Frederick Christian Strohm. Soon after they moved to Burlington, Wisconsin and began raising their family of three sons and one daughter. 

While raising their family they operated “Strohm’s Saloon” on Pine Street in Burlington Wisconsin. Nettie and her family lived on the third floor above the establishment. It is there her thoughts flowed through her fountain pen to paper. She remained living on Pine Street, caring for her African violets overflowing the back porch, sweeping down the three flights of stairs, daily, and pondering life away in her rocking chair until the age of 92. 

Great Grandma Nettie was a gentle and loving, strong-willed woman, with a very positive outlook on life. The poems contained in these books are taken from her spiral notebooks and journals, where she organized her writings. The content of her writings reflect much about family life and raising her children, happenings of the world, and her personal devotion and great appreciation to God, her Saviour, for the goodness in her life. 

It is unknown the exact date that she began writing, however this compilation dates back to the early 1930’s. With failing eyes, she was still writing well into her 80’s.  Great Grandma died in March 1976, just eight days past her 94th Birthday. 

It is with great pleasure that I am able to share her beautiful collection of poetry with all of you.