Gary Gruenenfelder Obituary: Man died in car accident at 69

Gary Gruenenfelder Obituary: Gary John Gruenenfelder, age 69 of Blanchardville, died from a tragic car accident on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

The two-vehicle crash was reported around 11:30 a.m. on Highway 78 near Moscow.

Gary Gruenenfelder was born to Henry and Margaret (Wahl) Gruenenfelder on April 3, 1954, at St. Claire Hospital in Monroe, WI. He grew up on the family farm in Blanchardville. He attended Blanchardville School graduating in 1972 in the newly formed Pecatonica School district as their “first and finest” graduating class.

On May 31, 1975, Gary married the love of his life, Muriel (Murt) McCarville, of Hollandale at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hollandale, WI. He worked for Zim’s Cheese for four years, becoming a licensed Cheesemaker. Together, Gary and Murt rented two different farms in the area. In May of 1980, they bought the Eidsmoe farm just north of Blanchardville in Moscow township.

Gary and Murt farmed together there until he built a new house on the edge of their farm where they still reside today. Gary started Gruenenfelder Construction, remodeling and building many new homes as well as the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blanchardville.

Gary is survived by his lovely wife, Murt, six children and 19 grandchildren: Justin (Michele) Eva & Hawken Gruenenfelder of Monticello, Farron (Jess) Trinity, Aidan, Layton & Atley Gruenenfelder of Blanchardville, Lucas (Dana) Teagan & Aven Gruenenfelder of Hollandale, Heidi (Jason) Ella, Owen & Olivia Schrader of Pewaukee, Jason (Kris) Halle, Jaxon, Cal, Lydia & Cheyenne Gruenenfelder of Blanchardville, and Lacy (James) Ryder, Taylee & Ace Gilbertson of New Glarus.

Gary was a Pecatonica school board member for five years, serving as President, for one year. He was a member of the Blanchardville Fire Dept for 24+ years, serving as Secretary/treasurer and an EMT for many years. He served as the Historian of the Knights of Columbus for many years. Gary was a businessman at heart.

He started Quad County Rentals in which he bought the old Zim’s Cheese/Quad Co Coop feed mill and started a self-storage business. In 2018, he opened Gary’s Service Station in the previously closed Blanchardville Coop Oil Station. There, he provided much-needed service to local community members.

A visitation for Gary Gruenenfelder will be held on Sunday, December 10th from 2:00 until 7:00 PM at Blanchard Hall on Main Street in Blanchardville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 11th at 11:00 AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blanchardville. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Blanchardville.