Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
James Grunewald
James “Jim” Albert Grunewald, 86, of Fall Creek, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 26, 2013. Jim had been a resident of the Fall Creek Valley Care Center since March, 2013.
Jim was born on July 26, 1927, in the Town of Pella, Shawano County, Wisconsin. He was the eldest of six children born to August and Magdalena (Koepke) Grunewald. They lived and farmed in the Shawano, Eau Claire, and Chippewa county areas while their family was growing up; they later moved to Sawyer County, where Jim and his family worked at the Transient Camp in Hayward. Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Army, in which he was honorably discharged in 1947.
Jim married the love of his life, Eleanor “Elly” Ogren, on June 11, 1949, in Hayward, Sawyer County, Wisconsin. They were very loving and protective parents of their seven children. Two years after Jim and Elly were married, they moved from Hayward to Chippewa Falls, where Jim worked as Head Baker for the Northern Colony for the next 17 years, retiring with State service of approximately 25 years. At that time, they purchased a country store and locker in Ludington, Eau Claire County, which would become known as Grunewald’s Store and Locker. They operated their business for the next 45 years, in which they were highly respected and known for their very kind, generous, and giving nature.
Jim served as Town Chairman on the town board of the Town of Ludington; he was Fire Warden for the Town of Ludington for a number of years, and their country store served as a game registration station for the DNR for most of the years they operated their business.
Jim also had a passion for horses and harness racing; he raced at several of the county fairs around Wisconsin for many years. Throughout the years, he also volunteered his services in auctioneering at several community and church events, and also for small auctions of his family, friends, and neighbors. Jim was also an avid outdoorsman, which included enjoying deer hunting up north and the surrounding area with his sons and family. He, Elly, and their sons also enjoyed many years of both summer and winter fishing, both in Canada and the surrounding Wisconsin lakes.
He is survived by his very loving and devoted wife, Elly, of 64 years; 3 daughters, Judy (Jim) Drehmel of Ladysmith, Joyce Evjen (Huntzie Geissler) of Cadott, Janice (Terry) Rouleau of Augusta; 4 sons, Jim (Shirley) of Augusta; Doug (Carrie) of Boyd; Tom (Mary) of Boyd; and Bob (Vicki) of Augusta. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren, Jessica, JoAnna, Brett, Brock, Crystal, Gwendolyn, Craig, Lisa, Lori, Jason, Jeremy, Jared, Jordan, Hayley, Matthew, Bradley, Ryan, and Camryn; 15 great grandchildren, Jaclyn, Jordan, Kristin, Alexandra, Samantha, Grant, Kersten, Kaeden, Louis, Elizabeth; Erica, Ashur, Briar, Madisyn, and Liam; sister, Jeanette (George) Long of Hayward; brothers, August Jr. (Joan) of Chippewa Falls; and Ray (Gladah) of Stone Lake; brother-in-law, Glenn Gregerson of Hayward; brother-in-law, Ray Poppe of Augusta; sister-in-law, Darlene Ogren of Spooner; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Alice Gregerson, brother, Guy; granddaughter, Billi Jo Mickelson; great-grandson, Andruw Mickelson; his mother and father-in-law, George and Annetta Ogren, and several brother and sister-in-laws.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, with Pastor Cal Siegel officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the Ludington Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services Wednesday at the funeral home.
