Bruce Grunst 1941 – 2020 
I haven’t posted in awhile. My husband was sick for several years and in the last two years I became his full-time caretaker. He succumbed to his illness on June 8, 2020. Since his passing, I am having hard time getting back to my genealogy and this blog. This last week I have worked on genealogy again. Today I thought I would do a short post to let everyone know I am still here and hope to post more often now that I have more time and things (I hope) have settled down.
We had a nice grave site ceremony for my husband with the Marines and a flag ceremony. Afterwards, we had a picnic lunch at the state park near our home, one of my husband’s favorite places.
He loved the outdoors and nature. Before he got sick our favorite thing to do was to go camping in our trailer and before that in our pop-up trailer, and tent camping when we were young.
He also loved cars and all things mechanical. His first car was a 54 Buick that he inherited from his father. When I met Bruce he owned a ’69 Plymouth Barracuda and ’69 450 Honda Motorcycle. I have many fond memories of our motorcycle adventures. He noticed me because of my ’69 Camaro Convertible.
We traveled all over the United States and saw many of the National Parks. Our favorite is Glacier National Park in Montana. We have been to most states. Our plan was to drive to Alaska when I retired, but it was not to be. By the time I retired there was no way that Bruce could have endured a trip like that. But I have many good memories the trips we did take.
Bruce loved sports and played baseball, softball, tennis, and ran. He was an avid sports fan of the White Sox, Cubs, and Bears. He enjoyed working on his own cars and machines. He was very handy around the house building us a fireplace and cabinets. His last few years his physical activity was diminished until he was unable to walk. It was so sad to watch my once athletic husband unable to do things for himself that he once enjoyed.
We were together 49 years and hoping for 50. If you count the year we dated, we were together 50.
Wedding Party
On Bruce’s last day I told him that we didn’t have an easy life, but we had a good life. He told me he was happy and thank me for taking care of him. There was no need to thank me, I would do it all over again. As he took his last breath, he held my hand and squeezed it. It was his last “I love you” to me. I love him and miss him, but at least he suffers no more and is at peace.
Family Tales from Gail 