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In Memory

Edward George Grunawalt - Class Of 1948 VIEW PROFILE

Edward George Grunawalt

Edward G. Grunawalt Sr.

Dec. 4, 1928 - Dec. 19, 2015

GRANGER - Edward G. Grunawalt Sr. of Granger, IN, passed on Saturday, December 19, 2015, with his family around him. He was born on Dec. 4th, 1928. He was preceded in death by his mother, Della, and father, Edward, half sister, Isabel Bauer, and half brother, Ralph Eveleigh.

Ed is survived by his wife, Mary Lou of 61 years of marriage; sons, Edward Jr. and Kevin (Kim) Grunawalt; and daughters, Linda Moon and Karin (Bruce) Wirick, all local in Granger and Mishawaka. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Kristie and Bryan Moon; Stephanie, Ashley, and Taylor Grunawalt; Katie, Kara, and Kolleen Grunawalt; Grant and Matt Wirick; and three great-grandchildren, Neven and Maksim Zych, and Talon Maes.

Ed graduated from South Bend Central High School. He continued his education in accounting from South Bend College of Commerce, Purdue Pension School, and Louisiana University Pension School. He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953, reaching the rank of Sergeant.

The story goes that Ed stole his best buddy's date, Mary Lou Tait, while on a double date in the summer of 1953, and he was smart not to let her go. They married in June 1954. Ed was very proud of their four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, but Mary Lou was the glue who held things together at home while Ed built his business. Mary Lou was everything to Ed, as she always made him his best in life and in dress. Perhaps his greatest love was the game of golf at his beloved South Bend Country Club, where he was a member for over 40 years. His four holes-in-one (all on the 4th hole with a four iron) and many tournament wins showed what a competitor he was in game and business.

Ed started his business career in the life insurance business part-time in 1954 with Union Central Life (now Ameritas Life), while working at the South Bend Tribune as circulation manager. He built a significant clientele as well as recruited and trained many, becoming agency manager in 1969 with an office of ten agents. The South Bend office won recognition by winning all five of Union Central's top honors and was inducted into the company's exclusive Hall of Fame in 1994. His son Kevin joined the firm in 1987 and, together with Edward Baer, evolved the company's name to Grunawalt Baer Financial to more closely reflect their expanded services into investments.

Under Kevin's leadership the firm recently merged to become one of twelve partners in a nationwide wealth management firm, 20/20 Financial Advisers. Ed and his legacy have touched thousands of families' lives in this community.

Ed gave to his community by serving as division head for United Way; he served as President of the South Bend chapter of the American Heart Association and was named their “Man of the Year” in 1989.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale and the volunteers at Hospice for making him comfortable in his last year of life.

Services with be held on 12-30-15 at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 115 S. Francis Street, South Bend, IN 46617. Visitation will be from 10-12 noon, service at noon. Contributions in memory of Edward may be made to www.alzfdn.org or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001; and the Center for Hospice Care, 111 Sunnybrook Ct., South Bend, IN 46637.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit our link at www.welsheimers.com.


 

Published by South Bend Tribune from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27, 2015.

01/24/2023 EJS



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