Funeral services for Michael Greiner, 49, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Todd Walsh will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Michael died at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, only six months after learning he had cancer.

Michael Greiner was born on Nov. 25, 1957, to George John and Ellen Marie (Wenzel) in Albert Lea. He attended Albert Lea Schools and was a 1976 graduate of Albert Lea High School and went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus College, Mankato State University and later Riverland Community College. He began stripping the dye off shoes for 25 cents a pair in the sixth grade at the family business, Busy Bee Shoe Shop, and eventually became sole proprietor. He was most recently employed at Albert Lea Electroplating as a chemist.

Michael married Marlene Ann Stein on June 10, 1995, at St. Theodore

Catholic Church in Albert Lea. Their three children came to be his deepest joy. Michael was a true renaissance man. He took pleasure in studying history, philosophy, science, music and many old-world crafts such as coopering, blacksmithing, leather and woodworking, gardening, wine making, beer brewing, and lapidary work, to name a few. He also enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting, canoeing, camping, historical re-enacting and playing his fiddle. Michael was also a charter member of the Lea Area Petra Society, the LeRoy Mountain Man Association and Big Island Voyager Brigade.

Michael &8220;Turtlebelly&8221; Greiner was a loving father and friend to all. He will forever be remembered for his gentle nature, brilliant mind, creative genius and fantastic fiddle playing.

Survivors include his wife, Marlene; children, Elora Celine (age 9), Treselia Ann (age 5) and Mathias Michael Delano (age 2); sisters, Judith (Wes) Nelson of Minneapolis and Janice (William) Helfritz of Wells; brothers, Jon (Jodell) Greiner of Burnsville, and Mark (Nancy) Greiner of Albert Lea; mother-in-law, Maureen Stein of Albert Lea; father-in-law, Delano (Kay) Stein of Lakeville; sister-in-law, Celine Stein of Albert Lea; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Michael was preceded in death by his two pre-term infants; parents; and grandparents.