A Happy Good-bye
Alfred Gruenwald was my dad's dad and my grandpa. He passed away on March 6th. I am very blest, in that this is my first grandparent to leave this earth. We always made a point to visit my grandparents every time we make it back to Milwaukee. When I was young we would see them almost every Sunday. We would go to their house for ham and rolls, a Sunday tradition for the Gruenwald family. After my folks divorced my dad moved in with them. So we would be there every other weekend.
They had a dog named Brandy when I was young. I remember Brandy jumping on me and scratching my face. After that I was always scared to go to their house. Brandy then went away and got a rat terrier and named her Penny. She was grandpa's dog all the way. She would pitch a fit when anyone went near him to give him a hug or kiss. I remember grandpa taking us to the "Pig and Whistle" for strawberry sundaes. Grandpa loved to golf and watch it. He also was a Packer fan through and through. The summer after my sophomore year of college my dad said I could drive his '79 Honda Civic. It was full of rust and not pretty to look at. So grandpa suggested we paint it with house paint. My dad painted on the side and had some extra paint. So we painted the car in grandpa's garage. First we rolled on gray and then used a rag to marbleize it. It was a thing of beauty. It hid all the rust and it had a one of a kind paint job!
I was over at my dad's visiting the summer after my junior year in London, and I had cut and dyed my hair, and gotten new glasses. I was sitting on the steps and my grandpa came walking up. I started talking to him, and I didn't realize that he didn't recognize me. He finally said, "Who are you?" I was like, "It is Rachel grandpa." We both had a good laugh.
About ten years ago he suffered a stroke. He was able to walk again and speak, but he was never the same. My grandma, bless her heart took care of him in their home. I don't know how she did it. She suffers with diabetes and is now losing the sight in her eyes. Her hearing is bad and she can't walk very far. Three years ago she wanted to move into assisted living, but my grandpa refused. My grandma can be very pessimistic. Two Christmas' ago she said," Well, this will probably be the last time you see me Rachel." So this past Christmas, we stayed an hour longer than originally planned, and I am so glad we did. It was the last time we got to see grandpa.
He went into the hospital on the 29th of February. He had a tumor on his lung and his heart was weakening. His kidneys failing is what took his life. However, he was on morphine, so he wasn't in pain. My grandma, dad and his three brothers were there, and several cousins.
His funeral was on Monday, the 10th. Even though it was sad, it was joyous. First because he had a strong faith and second because I got to see my aunts, uncles and cousins on the Gruenwald side. Many who I had not seen since my uncle died 19 years ago. It was so good to reconnect with that side of the family. I got several of my cousins addresses and phone numbers. We said we need to try and organize a family reunion, so we can get together for a happy occasion.
One of my aunt's didn't even recognize me, but as soon as I said who I was she was thrilled to see me. Another aunt didn't know I lived in Iowa. I wanted to say, "Do you really think I would have been out of touch this whole time if I still lived in Milwaukee?" But then again, I look at my family and most of them had.
The funeral mass was beautiful. The priest has been with the parish for almost 10 years. He has been going to my grandparents house to give them communion for several years now. So he knew lots about our family and was able to tell us stories that made us laugh. The boys were angels. I didnt' hear a peep out of them. Below is grandpa's obituary. I am going to miss him.
Gruenwald, Alfred March 6, 2008. Age 85 years. Beloved husband of Anna (nee Helete). Cherished father of Joan (Terrance) Wycklendt, the late Robert, Michael (Mary), John (Judy), Charles (Sue), Paul (Trudy) and Mary Gruenwald. Dear brother of Dorothy Wagner, Clifford (Ann Marie) Gruenwald and Eugene (Betty) Gruenwald. Further survived by 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Visitation Monday, March 10 at Three Holy Women Parish - St. Hedwig Church, 1702 N. Humboldt Ave., from 9:00 AM until time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Entombment Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. Al was a retiree of Unit Drop Forge and past president of UAW Local 407. Memorials to the Three Holy Women Parish Legacy Fund.
They had a dog named Brandy when I was young. I remember Brandy jumping on me and scratching my face. After that I was always scared to go to their house. Brandy then went away and got a rat terrier and named her Penny. She was grandpa's dog all the way. She would pitch a fit when anyone went near him to give him a hug or kiss. I remember grandpa taking us to the "Pig and Whistle" for strawberry sundaes. Grandpa loved to golf and watch it. He also was a Packer fan through and through. The summer after my sophomore year of college my dad said I could drive his '79 Honda Civic. It was full of rust and not pretty to look at. So grandpa suggested we paint it with house paint. My dad painted on the side and had some extra paint. So we painted the car in grandpa's garage. First we rolled on gray and then used a rag to marbleize it. It was a thing of beauty. It hid all the rust and it had a one of a kind paint job!
I was over at my dad's visiting the summer after my junior year in London, and I had cut and dyed my hair, and gotten new glasses. I was sitting on the steps and my grandpa came walking up. I started talking to him, and I didn't realize that he didn't recognize me. He finally said, "Who are you?" I was like, "It is Rachel grandpa." We both had a good laugh.
About ten years ago he suffered a stroke. He was able to walk again and speak, but he was never the same. My grandma, bless her heart took care of him in their home. I don't know how she did it. She suffers with diabetes and is now losing the sight in her eyes. Her hearing is bad and she can't walk very far. Three years ago she wanted to move into assisted living, but my grandpa refused. My grandma can be very pessimistic. Two Christmas' ago she said," Well, this will probably be the last time you see me Rachel." So this past Christmas, we stayed an hour longer than originally planned, and I am so glad we did. It was the last time we got to see grandpa.
He went into the hospital on the 29th of February. He had a tumor on his lung and his heart was weakening. His kidneys failing is what took his life. However, he was on morphine, so he wasn't in pain. My grandma, dad and his three brothers were there, and several cousins.
His funeral was on Monday, the 10th. Even though it was sad, it was joyous. First because he had a strong faith and second because I got to see my aunts, uncles and cousins on the Gruenwald side. Many who I had not seen since my uncle died 19 years ago. It was so good to reconnect with that side of the family. I got several of my cousins addresses and phone numbers. We said we need to try and organize a family reunion, so we can get together for a happy occasion.
One of my aunt's didn't even recognize me, but as soon as I said who I was she was thrilled to see me. Another aunt didn't know I lived in Iowa. I wanted to say, "Do you really think I would have been out of touch this whole time if I still lived in Milwaukee?" But then again, I look at my family and most of them had.
The funeral mass was beautiful. The priest has been with the parish for almost 10 years. He has been going to my grandparents house to give them communion for several years now. So he knew lots about our family and was able to tell us stories that made us laugh. The boys were angels. I didnt' hear a peep out of them. Below is grandpa's obituary. I am going to miss him.
Gruenwald, Alfred March 6, 2008. Age 85 years. Beloved husband of Anna (nee Helete). Cherished father of Joan (Terrance) Wycklendt, the late Robert, Michael (Mary), John (Judy), Charles (Sue), Paul (Trudy) and Mary Gruenwald. Dear brother of Dorothy Wagner, Clifford (Ann Marie) Gruenwald and Eugene (Betty) Gruenwald. Further survived by 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Visitation Monday, March 10 at Three Holy Women Parish - St. Hedwig Church, 1702 N. Humboldt Ave., from 9:00 AM until time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Entombment Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. Al was a retiree of Unit Drop Forge and past president of UAW Local 407. Memorials to the Three Holy Women Parish Legacy Fund.
posted by Rachel | 2:54 PM
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