Ronald F. Grunewald

Ronald F. Grunewald, 74 of Jefferson, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Aurora Summit Medical Center.

Ron was born on June 12, 1945 in Watertown, WI, the son of Carl and Viola (Weber) Grunewald.  He attended Watertown High School and graduated in 1964.  On August 27, 1966, he married Karen Hanke at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Rome.  The couple had 2 children, Dan and Wendy and enjoyed 53 years of marriage and were together for 55 years.  After Ron’s dad’s death; years later, Karen’s father August Hanke treated Ron like he was his own.  Ron was a machinist and after working in the industry for a number of years, and along with two other partners, started DJ&R (now Lemke DJ&R Manufacturing Inc.) of Helenville.  Ron retired as a quality technician at Bruno Independent Living Aids of Oconomowoc.  Fishing was a passion and he loved to go with his buddies, Jim Raatz and Jeremy Ottaviani.  Ron spent many days at his daughter’s cottage in Friendship, WI.  He was a talented and hardworking man who was more than capable at completing any farm project and earned his nickname “MacGyver”.  It was said of Ron: “if he didn’t have the tool he needed, he made his own”.  Ron was a good man who loved his family dearly. He will be deeply missed.

Ron is survived by: his wife Karen Grunewald of Jefferson; children Wendy (Steve) Fahlgren of Waunakee and Daniel (Dawn Scully) Grunewald of Helenville; grandchildren, and a great-grandson; identical twin brother Donald (Linda) of Cambridge, sisters Mary Boden, Elizabeth Grunewald, Karen (John) Block, and Carolyn Henze all of Watertown.  Ron is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00PM on Friday, December 20, 2019 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Rome with Rev. Mike Mannisto presiding.  Visitation will be on Friday from 10:00AM until the time of service at the church.  Burial will take place at St. Luke’s Cemetery of Rome following the service.

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