Died Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont.
Carl August Greunke was born July 19, 1937, in Jefferson City, MO, the oldest of four boys born to Theodore and Dorothea (Wehrend) Greunke. He was baptized July 30, 1937, at home on the family farm near Drake, MO. Carl and his brother Martin were raised by their uncle and aunt, Julius and Grace Greunke, after their mother's death during a flu epidemic in January, 1944. He attended school at St. John's Lutheran School, Drake, MO, and Trinity Lutheran School, Fremont. He was confirmed March 18, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont, NE. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1955 and attended Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, for one semester. While in school he delivered newspapers and worked at Plumfield Nursery. He served in the National Guard from 1955 to 1965 in Fremont. He did construction/concrete work helping build the silos on Broad St. Later he worked at O. P. Skaggs Grocery Store in Fremont and then Western Electric in Millard, from 1959 to 1996, starting as a bench hand and retired as a management employee after 37 years.
In retirement he worked part-time at H & R Block, delivered flowers for Kent's Flower Shop, drove hearses and limos for Dugan Funeral Home, helped at funerals for Ludvigsen Mortuary, and took care of flower gardens at Trinity Lutheran Church. His favorite job was Ice Man for his son-in-law at Dave's Drive-In Liquor. For many years he cut meat early on Thanksgiving morning for the Community Dinner at Midland University.
On July 10, 1960, he married Deloris Peters at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward, NE. She died March 1, 1993. On June 21, 2008, he married Barbara Koehlmoos at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont. They resided in Fremont and enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Azores, Mexico,Iceland, and several European countries where they attended the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. They took several Moostash Joe bus tours. A couple months in the winter were spent in Florida, Texas and Arizona. Carl had traveled to all 50 states.
Carl enjoyed gardening, reading, crossword puzzles and playing pitch, pinochle, canasta and sheepshead. He and Barb played a game of cribbage every evening. His penny pile increased greatly in a recent game of Michigan Rummy with Vera and Raymond.
Carl was active at Trinity Lutheran Church where he held various offices during his lifetime as a member.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, son Matthew in 1990, his wife Dee, brother Leo in February 2024, sisters-in-law Anna Lee Greunke and Cheryl Greunke.
Surviving are his wife Barbara; son Craig and wife Kimberley of Friona, TX; daughter Gretchen and husband Jeff Rise of Fremont; grandchildren, Vera Rise and Raymond Rise of Fremont; step-daughters Dawn Koehlmoos of Fremont and Beth Young and husband Jim Adams of Rapid City, SD; two step grandsons, Zachary and wife Leana of Fredericksburg, VA, and Alexander of Rapid City, SD; brothers Martin and wife Yvonne Greunke of Lansing, MI, and Alvin Greunke of Denver, CO.
The funeral will be 10:30am, Thursday, July 11, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Rev. Greg Rathke will officiate (livestream at https://trinityfremont.com/). Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church/School. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3pm to 8pm with the family present from 6pm to 8pm at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(5)
Pam Nielsen
Fremont, NE Tuesday, July 9, 2024 Dawn and family,Words can't express how sorry we are to hear of Carl's passing. He was definitely one of a kind. He had been helping us with the Thanksgiving Dinner for as long as Albert and I have been helping and maybe longer. He was always there first thing in the morning on Thanksgiving day to help with whatever needed to be done. Usually to help slice the turkey and ham. When the slicing was complete he was ready for another task, no questions asked. We will definitely miss him at Thanksgiving this year.
Prayers to you all at this difficult time.
JoAnn Greunke Maciorowski
Madison, WI Monday, July 8, 2024 Carl was one of my favorite cousins...a bit older than me but he had such a young, vibrant spirit. Our family was richer having him a part of it. Praying for the family.Cindy Harder
FREMONT, NE Monday, July 8, 2024 Truly a great man. My kids and I send our deepest condolences to his entire family.Kimberly Greunke
Friona, TX Sunday, July 7, 2024 Carl was a wonderful father in law. I considered him the father I never had. He was a great help to Craig and I through the years. He will be deeply missed. My condolences to the rest of the family.Joyce Stork
Henderson, NV Sunday, July 7, 2024 God's peace to Barb, Gretchen, and all the family. "I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another." Job 19:25-27