William Gruenerwald Obituary

William (Bill) Gruenerwald, husband of Dorothea Gruenerwald, passed away June 10, 2009. He was born July 18, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl A. Gruenerwald and Ida (Mangold) Gruenerwald. After graduating from Northwestern University with a BS in Geology and Engineering, he extended his education by examining mineral deposits in the Philippines, Mindanao, Malaysia, Africa, and South America. From 1943-46 he was assigned to the Manhattan Project (Atomic Energy Corp) to research uranium deposits in the Four Corners area of the Colorado Plateau and in China, Tibet and the Gobi Desert. Further foreign assignments included examining mineral deposits in Argentina and Venezuela. Returning to Chicago, Illinois he joined the Paul Weir Company to supervise a government contract to evaluate coal deposits in the U.S. for a possible synthetic liquid fuel program. In 1950 he opened his office in Chicago, IL as an Independent Oil and Gas Operator. For forty years he drilled and operated oil and gas wells in Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. His next life adventure involved saving endangered equine species on a ranch property he had acquired in northeastern New Mexico. Canyon Colorado Equine Sanctuary became a haven and breeding facility for seven distinct species. In 1981 he donated two elephants, Lucky and Kimba, to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where they still reside. Over the years, numerous donations were made to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Rio Grande Zoo (NM) and the National Zoo (Washington DC). Bill is survived by Dorothea, his wife of 50 years; his sister, Natalie Anton of Austin, TX; and a nephew, William Anton also of Austin, TX. A private memorial service will be held at a later date with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, Illinois. Donations in memory of an exceptional individual may be made to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette on Jun. 14, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for William Gruenerwald

8 Entries

Frank and Judy Mello

June 23, 2009

Dorothea, It was very much a pleasure knowing Bill. We are indebted to both of you for the zebra we received. In his memory we have had 7 new Grevy's and Mountain zebra foals born from the original group we received at our preserve. Rest assure that we will play an important role in adding to the great success and legacy of Canyon Colorado Equid Sanctuary. He is truly a great conservationist who will be very much missed.

jan cooper

June 17, 2009

Dorothea,

I am so deeply saddened at your loss. Please know that though we have had too few conversations, I have admired you from a distance and my most sincere Prayers are with you.
I am sure that your wonderful husband is looking down upon you with love in his heart and his arms and spirit will forever remain close to you to give you comfort while the Lord will continue to give you strength.

You shall see him again and your joy will once again be full.

God Bless you
jan cooper

Michael Holland

June 15, 2009

Please accept my heartfelt condolences for Bill's passing, Dorothea. My parents, Tom & Marilyn Holland, considered you and Bill among their dearest and closest friends. Our family visited your Texas Creek Ranch in Westcliffe annually for nearly a decade, followed by a visit to you in Broadmoor. Those trips remain some of our most cherished family memories. Dad would regale us with "Bill" adventure stories which ranged from Grebe Zebras and wild African dogs to Bill saving a car-stricken dog clinging to life by the side of a road. May God bless both you and Bill. You will always have friends in Aurora. Michael Holland

Christopher Holland

June 14, 2009

Mrs. Gruenerwald,

Growing up in a small town of Liberal Kansas was to say the least rather dull, Mr. Gruenerwald allowed my family to enjoy life every summer up in Colorado, wheather it be climbing a mountain or going 100 mph in a lamborghini 400GT coupe.
He Is Truly one of the Two Great Men in my Life.

Charlie D'Angelo

June 14, 2009

Hi Dorothea,
What an amazing journey of 50 years you had with Bill. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing and for the sadness it brings you.
I am pleased to have known Bill and to have had the occasion to spend time with him to listen to his incredible wealth of knowledge on geology and animals.
Dorothea, you are so very special and Bill was truly blessed to have you as his wife.
My thoughts and prayers are with you always. I will see you soon.
All My Love, Charlie

Mike & Toni Phillips

June 14, 2009

Our lives were richly blessed with Bill & Dorothea as our friends! We will miss Bill but will never forget his presence and his love for animals that brought our lives together! May God's Peace be upon Dorothea until you are reunited again!!

Jenny Kerchner

June 14, 2009

Bill Gruenerwald touched so many lives - human and animal, and lived such an amazing life himself. Those who had the honor and priviledge to have known and befriended him feel truly blessed. Bill will be sorely missed, yet his extrordinary personality, compassion and zest lives on in all of us who knew him.

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results