Walter Gronlund

 Walter GronlundWalter Raymond Gronlund, 84 of Staples, died March 8, 2010, at the Lakewood Health Care System in Staples.

Funeral services were March 12, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena, with Pastor Stephen Meltzer officiating. Burial was in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Verndale. Honorary pallbearers were Corey Gronlund, Richard Gronlund, Jim Waldahl, Lane Waldahl, Jack Carr, Mike Carr, Sr., and Calvin Koth. 

Arrangements were with the Johnson Memorial Home in Wadena. 

Walter was born Aug. 24, 1925, to William and Hilda (Komppa) Gronlund in Sebeka. He served in the U.S. Army, 78th Division, F Co.309 Infantry during WWII. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star Medal, for good courage in the Battle of The Bulge Conflict, and for good conduct. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

On June 4, 1954, Walt was married Ruth Elizabeth Berg at the First Baptist Church in Park Rapids. They made their home in Verndale. He was owner and operator of the G & L gas station in Verndale.  He purchased it on his birthday in 1952, serving Verndale and area customers until his death. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and St. John Lutheran Church.

Walt is survived by his wife; one daughter, Nancy Gronlund of Grayslake, Ill.; one son, David (Mary) Gronlund of Verndale; two grandchildren; three brothers, Arne of Rock Falls, Ill., Clifford (Rose) of Phoenix, Ariz.; Leslie (Alice Jean) of Sebeka; four sisters, Elma Stavros of Ashland, Ore.; Lila (Roger) Ristine of Roseville; Irene (Marc) Burns of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Mary (David) Rising of Shoreview; one sister-in-law, Beverly Gronlund of Roseville, Calif.; the Harry and Elfriede Rebiger family of Milwaukee, Wisc.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Elmer; one sister-in-law, Edna; and one brother-in-law, Donald. 

Active pallbearers were Ryan Gronlund, Steven Gronlund, Daniel Schmitz, David Wiese, Galen Hieb, and Daniel DeYonge.

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