Laverne J. Grunenwald

Laverne Grunenwald, 87, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. He was born December 10, 1937, in Merrill, WI, to the late Edward and Ruth (Fellbaum) Grunenwald.

On June 6, 1964, he married the love of his life Marilyn (Wiederhoeft) Grunenwald at St. Peter Lutheran church in Hamburg, WI. They were married for 57 years until her passing in 2023.

He served in the Army in the Vietnam Era and during the Berlin Crisis, was a member of the American Legion for over 35 years, and was able to go on the Honor Flight in May 2023. Laverne loved baseball, played in the Marathon County baseball league, coached his sons in Little League, then stayed involved in Wausau Youth Baseball for 30 plus years and was inducted into the Wall of Honor in 2023.

He owned Russ Heating before working at Wausau Papers for 25 years. After retirement he worked part-time at the Bank of Wausau and Vullings Floral. He also served on the Marathon County Board for several terms.

Laverne loved spending time with his wife, Marilyn and traveling across the US, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and Canada. They loved attending and following their grandsons to all their sporting events. He also loved hunting and enjoyed going to and helping at the WI Valley Fair. He was an active member at St. Johns Church and enjoyed his Sundays there. He enjoyed going for coffee and breakfast with his friends.

Laverne is survived by his two sons, Steven (Pam) Grunenwald and Greg Grunenwald, both of Wausau; and two grandsons, Cody (Sirin Ince) and Logan (Camryn Behnke) Grunenwald both of Wausau. He is also survived by his brother, Duane (Carol) Grunenwald; sister, Phyllis (Clarence) Kostecki; in-laws, Al Schmolze, Jean (John) Reed, and Robert (Terri) Wiederhoeft; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; parents, Edward and Ruth (Fellbaum) Grunenwald; brothers and sisters, Jeanette Schmolze, Lavine (Laurenz) Krause, Douglas (Lorraine) Grunenwald, Floyd (Val) Grunenwald, Lloyd (Gladys) Grunenwald, Wilber Grunenwald, and Eugene (Mable) Grunenwald; brother-in-law, Vilas Steidinger; and sister-in-law, Barbara Grunenwald.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 16, 2025, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church ELCA, 5304 44th Avenue in the Village of Maine. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. and services will be held at 11 a.m. Pastor Maggie will be officiating. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Village of Maine, following the service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.