Carl Greuel

Carl Christopher Greuel, husband of Le (Truong) Greuel, passed into Eternal Life on September 19, 2025 at his home in Oklahoma City, secure in the love and adoration of his family.
Carl was born in Muskogee, OK on April 10, 1952 to Simon & Cecilia (Schaefer) Greuel. He was the first boy born to his parents after eight girls. Followed by two more sisters and four brothers, the siblings were proudly known as the "Greuel 15."
Throughout his childhood and young adult years, Carl worked with his father and brothers in the hayfields. It was there that he developed his love of cold ice water and sunsets, which signified that it was time to rest. He attended school at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Muskogee, Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, AR, Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO, and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Upon graduation, he returned to Muskogee.
At a Knights of Columbus St. Patrick's Day dance in 1976, Carl met and actively pursued his future wife, Le Truong. He won her over, and they married in August 1977 at The Church of the Assumption in Muskogee, OK. Upon their marriage, Carl immediately took on responsibility for five of his wife's younger siblings to raise as his own, as their own parents were still in Vietnam. Carl and Le raised their own four children alongside Le's siblings, and loved them all dearly. They worked and sacrificed for many years to bring the rest of Le's family, including her mother and several siblings and their families, from Saigon, Vietnam to Muskogee in 1990.
Carl worked for National Steel Erectors Corp. as a project manager. He relished the opportunity he had to travel the world in his position. He traveled to Iceland, Venezuela, India, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Canada, and many other beautiful places, but his heart was always at home. A heart condition necessitated medical retirement. He became a stay-at-home dad who kept busy running kids back and forth, puttering around his acreage and shop, raising a herd of ferocious Yorkies, and often finding a short-term enterprise to challenge him and turn a small profit. He lent his hand to help with the cooking, and there were many creative and tasty meals put forth for the family. The smell of fresh bread in the morning, ketchup on macaroni, and chocolate cake topped with Cool Whip and canned cherries will forever be a reminder of Carl for his wife and children. Carl loved to be outdoors, accompanying his son, Nicholas, on many Scouting trips, and taking his family camping and traveling around the country.
The Greuels were active parishioners of Assumption/Sacred Heart/St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee until Carl's health required them to permanently move to Oklahoma City in 2019 to be near family and his medical support team. While able, Carl attended mass at St. Eugene Catholic Church and Church of the Epiphany in OKC. While in Muskogee, Carl served on the parish council, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and volunteered at the school his children attended.
Carl is survived by his wife of 48 years, Le (Truong) Greuel, daughters Kimberly Hattway, Regina Cook, and Natalie McEntire; sons-in-law Daniel, John Paul, and Jordan; grandchildren Elliott, Nicholas, Teddy, Julianna, Madeline, and Caroline; siblings Martha Fisher, Rosemary Plunkett-Stith, Geraldine Herzog, Barbara Boerwinkle Korpi, Angelina Bedell, Charlotte Marshall, Susanne Hamker, Christina Plunkett, Anthony Greuel, Lucy Williams, Vincent Greuel, Thomas Greuel, Sarah Plunkett, Danny Greuel, and their spouses; sisters and brothers-in law Mary Hieu Truong, Phillip Truong, Hanna Hanh Truong, Lien Truong, Mary Nga Ha, Heather Hai Truong, Theresa Ha Bodell, and Paul Hung Truong and their spouses; 86 nieces and nephews, and an ever-growing number of grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his son Nicholas; parents Simon & Cecilia Greuel; father and mother-in-law Andre Nhan Truong & Anna Lan Nguyen; brothers-in-law Peter Tai Truong, Joseph Phat Truong, Paul Hoa Nguyen, Phil Fisher, Gordon Boerwinkle, Russ Hamker, Wade Stith, and John Williams, and sister-in-law Kim Phuong Truong; nieces Esther Phillips and Julie Wilson, and nephew Zach Plunkett. He was also preceded in death by Aaron Camarillo, his heart donor, who gifted him nearly 23 additional years of life and time with his loved ones. Thank you to the Camarillo family for the gift of life.
Carl wanted to be remembered for being "straight as an arrow," as coined by a friend of his. He had a particular affinity for Robert Frost's poems, He felt a kinship with the idea of having been one who made choices that were difficult, but ultimately "made all the difference." Faced with many health difficulties, the "Miracle Man" did not give in, feeling that he still had "miles to go before I sleep." Now that the sun has set, and the hay baling is done, Carl may finally rest in God's presence.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carl's name at St. Joseph Catholic Church & School in Muskogee, OK or LifeShare Oklahoma.