MYSTERY DEATH IN HOTEL!
W. C. Grunow of Radio Fame Dies in Stevens
William C. Grunow, 58, who made several million dollars as a pioneer radio manufacturer, lost most of it, and recouped as a chicken raiser in the last decade, was found dead early today in a 24th floor room in the Stevens hotel.
Grunow's nude body, with a minor contusion on the back of the head was found lying on the bathroom floor; Dr. Richard P. Ariagno, hotel physician, told police he found the body after midnight after receiving a telephone summons from an unidentified woman that "a man up here is having a heart attack; come right up."
Mystery Woman Vanishes
Dr. Ariagno said the woman disappeared before he arrived…. Grunow frequently occupied [the hotel room] when he came to Chicago on business in connection with his Val-Lo-Will Farms, inc., the chicken raising enterprise, which also owns 24 retail outlets.
Wife Notified at Home
Dr. Ariagno said he was told by Grunow's wife, Valborg, after she received notification in Grunow's home in Lake Geneva, Wis., that Grunow had been receiving treatment for a cardiac condition.
Rags to Riches Figure
Grunow was a rags to riches figure in Chicago industry. He was born on the west side, educated in public schools, then entered the army in World War I. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
He took a job as an accountant with a company organized by B. J. Grigsby to manufacture electric appliances. In 1927 the two founded the Grigsby-Grunow company and began manufacturing the Majestic radio. The company prospered, and the two, before the 1929 market crash, were rated as multi-millionaires.
In 1931, after a disagreement between the partners, Grunow was ousted as president.
In 1933, Grunow invested a million dollars in cash to form his own company, the General Household Utilities, and enter the radio and refrigerator manufacturing company on his own.
Firm Falls in 1935
Grigsby-Grunow company went bankrupt in 1935 and Grunow's company crashed in 1939. He sold an estate in Phoenix, Ariz., and started his poultry raising enterprise on his 500 acre Val-Lo-Will farms in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he made his home.
In 1929, Grunow established a million dollar trust to endow the Lois Grunow memorial clinic at Phoenix in memory of his daughter, who died in 1929. In 1948, Grunow gave $50,000 to establish the Lois Grunow surgical research fund at Northwestern university.
Grunow also leaves a daughter, Valerie Jane, and a son, William Jr.
--Chicago Tribune, 6 July 1951, pg. 1
Lived at 915 Franklin in River Forest, which had two bowling alleys, and a swimming pool. The house was later owned by Tony 'the Big Tuna' Accardo.
Married Valborg Alvida Winnan 23 Jun 1917, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Daughter Valerie married Dale Liechty in 1952.
W. C. Grunow of Radio Fame Dies in Stevens
William C. Grunow, 58, who made several million dollars as a pioneer radio manufacturer, lost most of it, and recouped as a chicken raiser in the last decade, was found dead early today in a 24th floor room in the Stevens hotel.
Grunow's nude body, with a minor contusion on the back of the head was found lying on the bathroom floor; Dr. Richard P. Ariagno, hotel physician, told police he found the body after midnight after receiving a telephone summons from an unidentified woman that "a man up here is having a heart attack; come right up."
Mystery Woman Vanishes
Dr. Ariagno said the woman disappeared before he arrived…. Grunow frequently occupied [the hotel room] when he came to Chicago on business in connection with his Val-Lo-Will Farms, inc., the chicken raising enterprise, which also owns 24 retail outlets.
Wife Notified at Home
Dr. Ariagno said he was told by Grunow's wife, Valborg, after she received notification in Grunow's home in Lake Geneva, Wis., that Grunow had been receiving treatment for a cardiac condition.
Rags to Riches Figure
Grunow was a rags to riches figure in Chicago industry. He was born on the west side, educated in public schools, then entered the army in World War I. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
He took a job as an accountant with a company organized by B. J. Grigsby to manufacture electric appliances. In 1927 the two founded the Grigsby-Grunow company and began manufacturing the Majestic radio. The company prospered, and the two, before the 1929 market crash, were rated as multi-millionaires.
In 1931, after a disagreement between the partners, Grunow was ousted as president.
In 1933, Grunow invested a million dollars in cash to form his own company, the General Household Utilities, and enter the radio and refrigerator manufacturing company on his own.
Firm Falls in 1935
Grigsby-Grunow company went bankrupt in 1935 and Grunow's company crashed in 1939. He sold an estate in Phoenix, Ariz., and started his poultry raising enterprise on his 500 acre Val-Lo-Will farms in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he made his home.
In 1929, Grunow established a million dollar trust to endow the Lois Grunow memorial clinic at Phoenix in memory of his daughter, who died in 1929. In 1948, Grunow gave $50,000 to establish the Lois Grunow surgical research fund at Northwestern university.
Grunow also leaves a daughter, Valerie Jane, and a son, William Jr.
--Chicago Tribune, 6 July 1951, pg. 1
Lived at 915 Franklin in River Forest, which had two bowling alleys, and a swimming pool. The house was later owned by Tony 'the Big Tuna' Accardo.
Married Valborg Alvida Winnan 23 Jun 1917, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Daughter Valerie married Dale Liechty in 1952.
MYSTERY DEATH IN HOTEL!
W. C. Grunow of Radio Fame Dies in Stevens
William C. Grunow, 58, who made several million dollars as a pioneer radio manufacturer, lost most of it, and recouped as a chicken raiser in the last decade, was found dead early today in a 24th floor room in the Stevens hotel.
Grunow's nude body, with a minor contusion on the back of the head was found lying on the bathroom floor; Dr. Richard P. Ariagno, hotel physician, told police he found the body after midnight after receiving a telephone summons from an unidentified woman that "a man up here is having a heart attack; come right up."
Mystery Woman Vanishes
Dr. Ariagno said the woman disappeared before he arrived…. Grunow frequently occupied [the hotel room] when he came to Chicago on business in connection with his Val-Lo-Will Farms, inc., the chicken raising enterprise, which also owns 24 retail outlets.
Wife Notified at Home
Dr. Ariagno said he was told by Grunow's wife, Valborg, after she received notification in Grunow's home in Lake Geneva, Wis., that Grunow had been receiving treatment for a cardiac condition.
Rags to Riches Figure
Grunow was a rags to riches figure in Chicago industry. He was born on the west side, educated in public schools, then entered the army in World War I. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
He took a job as an accountant with a company organized by B. J. Grigsby to manufacture electric appliances. In 1927 the two founded the Grigsby-Grunow company and began manufacturing the Majestic radio. The company prospered, and the two, before the 1929 market crash, were rated as multi-millionaires.
In 1931, after a disagreement between the partners, Grunow was ousted as president.
In 1933, Grunow invested a million dollars in cash to form his own company, the General Household Utilities, and enter the radio and refrigerator manufacturing company on his own.
Firm Falls in 1935
Grigsby-Grunow company went bankrupt in 1935 and Grunow's company crashed in 1939. He sold an estate in Phoenix, Ariz., and started his poultry raising enterprise on his 500 acre Val-Lo-Will farms in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he made his home.
In 1929, Grunow established a million dollar trust to endow the Lois Grunow memorial clinic at Phoenix in memory of his daughter, who died in 1929. In 1948, Grunow gave $50,000 to establish the Lois Grunow surgical research fund at Northwestern university.
Grunow also leaves a daughter, Valerie Jane, and a son, William Jr.
--Chicago Tribune, 6 July 1951, pg. 1
Lived at 915 Franklin in River Forest, which had two bowling alleys, and a swimming pool. The house was later owned by Tony 'the Big Tuna' Accardo.
Married Valborg Alvida Winnan 23 Jun 1917, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Daughter Valerie married Dale Liechty in 1952.
W. C. Grunow of Radio Fame Dies in Stevens
William C. Grunow, 58, who made several million dollars as a pioneer radio manufacturer, lost most of it, and recouped as a chicken raiser in the last decade, was found dead early today in a 24th floor room in the Stevens hotel.
Grunow's nude body, with a minor contusion on the back of the head was found lying on the bathroom floor; Dr. Richard P. Ariagno, hotel physician, told police he found the body after midnight after receiving a telephone summons from an unidentified woman that "a man up here is having a heart attack; come right up."
Mystery Woman Vanishes
Dr. Ariagno said the woman disappeared before he arrived…. Grunow frequently occupied [the hotel room] when he came to Chicago on business in connection with his Val-Lo-Will Farms, inc., the chicken raising enterprise, which also owns 24 retail outlets.
Wife Notified at Home
Dr. Ariagno said he was told by Grunow's wife, Valborg, after she received notification in Grunow's home in Lake Geneva, Wis., that Grunow had been receiving treatment for a cardiac condition.
Rags to Riches Figure
Grunow was a rags to riches figure in Chicago industry. He was born on the west side, educated in public schools, then entered the army in World War I. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
He took a job as an accountant with a company organized by B. J. Grigsby to manufacture electric appliances. In 1927 the two founded the Grigsby-Grunow company and began manufacturing the Majestic radio. The company prospered, and the two, before the 1929 market crash, were rated as multi-millionaires.
In 1931, after a disagreement between the partners, Grunow was ousted as president.
In 1933, Grunow invested a million dollars in cash to form his own company, the General Household Utilities, and enter the radio and refrigerator manufacturing company on his own.
Firm Falls in 1935
Grigsby-Grunow company went bankrupt in 1935 and Grunow's company crashed in 1939. He sold an estate in Phoenix, Ariz., and started his poultry raising enterprise on his 500 acre Val-Lo-Will farms in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he made his home.
In 1929, Grunow established a million dollar trust to endow the Lois Grunow memorial clinic at Phoenix in memory of his daughter, who died in 1929. In 1948, Grunow gave $50,000 to establish the Lois Grunow surgical research fund at Northwestern university.
Grunow also leaves a daughter, Valerie Jane, and a son, William Jr.
--Chicago Tribune, 6 July 1951, pg. 1
Lived at 915 Franklin in River Forest, which had two bowling alleys, and a swimming pool. The house was later owned by Tony 'the Big Tuna' Accardo.
Married Valborg Alvida Winnan 23 Jun 1917, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Daughter Valerie married Dale Liechty in 1952.
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