Kenneth Otto Gruenhagen

Obituary

Kenneth “Ken” Otto Gruenhagen was born on September 2, 1929, in Helen Township, McLeod County, Minnesota. He was the son of Albert and Ella (Tanke) Grunhagen. Ken was baptized as an infant on September 15, 1929, by Rev. H. J. Bouman at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg, Minnesota, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on April 18, 1943, by Rev. Alfred Streufert at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota. His confirmation verse was Psalms 143:10.  Ken attended kindergarten and first grade at Glencoe Public School, second through sixth grade at First Evangelical Lutheran Parochial School and ninth grade at Glencoe Public High School all in Glencoe, Minnesota.  Kenneth entered active military service in the United States Army on March 23, 1951, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and served in Germany during the Korean War with Battery D, 45th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion as a Corporal. He was awarded the Army of Occupation and National Defense Service Medals and was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Custer, Michigan on March 5, 1953.

On August 20, 1953, Ken was united in marriage to Helen Fruetel by Rev. Walter Fischer at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Lester Prairie, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Glencoe and in 1968, they moved to Hutchinson. Ken and Helen’s marriage was blessed with four children, Lynn, Lee, Susan and Steven. They shared over 53 years of marriage until Helen passed away on April 30, 2007.

Ken held various jobs over his lifetime. He worked at Green Giant and Glencoe Butter and Produce both in Glencoe, Minnesota, and Holsum Bread Company.  Ken and Helen also owned and operated the Hutch Motel in Hutchinson. He sold real estate, worked at AAL Insurance and Glencoe Ford. On January 1, 2003, Ken retired and worked part time at Lutheran Digest. Ken was a charter member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota, and Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Zapata, Texas. He also was a member of the Glencoe VFW Post #5102 and served as a councilman in Hutchinson.

Ken enjoyed politics, woodworking, reading, fishing and traveling in his motor home throughout the states. He cherished the time spent with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren.

Ken passed away on December 12, 2015, at Glencoe Regional Health Services Long Term Care in Glencoe, Minnesota, at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 10 days. 

Blessed be his memory.

Ken is survived by his:
Children, Lynn Richardson and her husband, Steve, of Maplewood, MN,
Lee Gruenhagen and his wife, Sharon, of Hutchinson, MN,
Susan Olson and her husband, Wes, of Glencoe, MN,
Steven Gruenhagen of Omaha, NE;
Grandchildren, Seth (Ellen) Olson, Vanessa (Kyle) Kimball, Angela (Mark) Leyk, Justine (Jake) Launert, Ami (Chase) Rickson, Dylan (Haley) Olson, Aleesha Gruenhagen, Ben Olson;
Great Grandchildren, Harvey, June, Alex, Isaac, Henrik, Liam, Emmett;
Step Great Grandchildren: Jacob, Zac, Sadie;
Sister, Jeanette Brinkman of Glencoe, MN;
Brothers, Don Gruenhagen and his wife, Jean, of Glencoe, MN,
Al Gruenhagen of Glencoe, MN;
Brother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law, Harold and Lois (Fruetel) Hoof of Hawaii;
Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Other relatives and many friends.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his: Parents, Albert and Ella (Tanke) Gruenhagen; Wife, Helen (Fruetel) Gruenhagen; Sisters, Carol Gruenhagen and Mavis Gruenhagen; Brother, Orville Gruenhagen; Brother-In-Law, Earl Brinkamn; Sisters-In-Law, Geraldine Gruenhagen and Jan Gruenhagen.