Family Group Record for Norman Herman Grunklee and Ruth Marie Hartle

Husband Norman Herman Grunklee ^[1]^[2]

Born:	04/15/1929 - Claremont, Dodge, Minnesota ^[2]
Christened:
Died:	12/12/2023 - Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota ^[2]
Buried:
Father:	Herman Carl Grunklee
Mother:	Leora Louisa Kruckeberg
Marriage:	10/20/1949 - Owatonna, Steele, Minnesota ^[1]

Events and Facts

His obituary was published in the Owatonna Peoples Press about 12/13/2023 in Owatonna, Steele, Minnesota.

Norman H Grunklee
April 15, 1929 -- December 12, 2023

Norman Herman Grunklee, 94, of Red Wing, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Mayo Health Systems, Methodist Campus in Rochester.

He was born on April 15, 1929, in Claremont, Minnesota to Herman and Leora (Kruckeberg) Grunklee. He graduated in 1947, from Blooming Prairie High School. On October 20, 1949, he was united in marriage to Ruth Hartle at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna. Norman began working for Jostens in Owatonna before entering the US Air Force, serving from 1952 to 1956, during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Jostens, continuing his career of 46 years with them, retiring in 1993. During that time with Jostens, he and his family lived in Owatonna, moved to Hatfield, Pennsylvania in 1969, and then to Red Wing in 1983. He was a member of the Church of St. Joseph where he served as a eucharistic minister and was active with Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54 and volunteered his time at the Sheldon Theatre. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed playing cards and the piano accordion. Norman loved to dance with and sing to his wife, Ruth, during their 73 years of marriage. In his younger years coached youth baseball. He and Ruth also travelled throughout the United States and Europe during their retirement years.

Norman is survived by six children, Douglas (Joyce) Grunklee of Skippack, Penn., Jane (John) Delp of Naples, Fla., Diane (Joel) Collett of Stephenson, Va., Joseph Grunklee of Lansdale, Penn., Jon (Jessica) Grunklee of Eagan and Daniel Grunklee of Austin, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth on November 12, 2022, one brother, Dale and two sisters, Verna Minges and Maxine Ronglien.

Mass of Resurrection will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December, 19, 2023, at the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing with Father Brandon Theisen presiding. A recording of the service is available here . Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2023, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel in Red Wing and at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to the Lupus Foundation of America or St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital.

[Mann Family Funeral and Cremation Services]

Wife Ruth Marie Hartle ^[1]^[3]

Born:	06/06/1929 - Steele County, Minnesota ^[3]
Christened:
Died:	11/12/2022 - Lake City, Wabasha, Minnesota ^[3]
Buried:	Owatonna, Steele, Minnesota ^[3]

Events and Facts

Her obituary was published on her Find-A-Grave Memorial on 11/18/2022. ^[3]

Ruth Marie (Hartle) Grunklee, 93, of Red Wing passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at the Lake City Care Center.

Ruth brought a smile to everyone's face that she encountered, with her kind heart, dogged determination, and quirky sense of humor.

Ruth was blessed with a loving husband of 73 years, 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Born in Steele County, Minnesota to William and Mary (Seykora) Hartle on June 6, 1929, Ruth attended Rural School District #25. Ruth was honored to be named the Style Queen of the Steele County Fair in 1945 because of the dress she stitched.

Ruth graduated from Owatonna High School in 1947.

She worked at the Owatonna Locker Plant from 1947 to 1952 as a bookkeeper.

She also was instrumental as a charter member of the Pratt Minnesota Commando 4H Club. In addition, she became a member of the Women's Catholic Order of Forester (WCOF) in 1946 and served on its Literary Committee.

On October 20, 1949 she was united in marriage to Norman Grunklee at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna.

Ruth lived in Bilox, Mississippi from 1952 and 1953, where she gave birth to her first child. She moved back to Owatanna and lived with her parents on the family farm until Norman returned from Korea. She lived in Minneapolis from 1953 to 1956, then again moved back to Owatonna.

Ruth and Norman lived at 1041 South Cedar St. until August 1969 when they moved to Hatfield, Pennsylvania. She lived there until 1983 when they moved to Red Wing. During her time in PA, she worked as an Avon Rep from 1971-78. She also worked at Lactonna Manufacturing Co. until 1983.

During her time in Red Wing, Ruth worked at K-Mart from 1984-1999 when she retired.

Ruth's interests included gardening, tending to her flowers, canning, baking, crocheting, crafts, sewing, hardanger embroidery, traveling, and playing cards with family and friends.

Following Norman's retirement, they traveled to various places throughout the United States and Europe.

Ruth was a member of the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, and was a 60-year member WCOF. She also was involved with the North Star Home Ext Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin sister Rita; and siblings, Alice Henry, Lucille Peterson, and Lorraine Butler.

Mass of Resurrection will be 11 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2022, at the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing with Father Brandon Theisen presiding. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 17, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church one hour prior to the Mass.

Memorials are preferred to the Lupus Foundation of American, Alzheimer's Association or Mayo Clinic for research.

Sources

1.	Minnesota Association of County Officers, "Minnesota Official Marriage System," Steele County certificate S-506-GNHHRM, Norman Herman Grunklee and Ruth M Hartle; Database online, Minnesota counties, Minnesota Official Marriage System : n.d. (https://moms.mn.gov/ : accessed 12/15/2024) [Surety: 3].
2.	Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., U.S. Obituary Collection 1930-Current, Owatonna Peoples Press, Owatonna, MN, Abt 12/12/2023, Norman Herman Grunklee, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/owatonnapeoplespress/name/norman-grunklee-obituary?id=53843504; Database online, Ancestry.com LLC, Ancestry.com : 2006 (http://www.Ancestry.com/ : accessed 12/15/2024) [Surety: 3].
3.	User submitted cemetery data, "Find A Grave," Ruth Marie (Hartle) Grnklee (#245750767); Database online, Find-A-Grave (Jim Tipton, Founder), Find A Grave : 1995 (http://www.FindAGrave.com/ : accessed 12/15/2024) [Surety: 2].