Trivoli - Herman Jobe "Bud" Gronewold of Trivoli died on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria.
A resident of Lutheran Hillside Village for the past year, he was born on April 19, 1920, in Trivoli to Herman H. and Jessie Mae (Garrison) Gronewold.
His death came just weeks after that of his wife of 62 years, Eleanor Jean Gronewold, whom he married on Jan. 13, 1946.
Bud also was preceded in death by his brothers, Berne and Clyde.
He leaves a daughter, Sue Ellen Gronewold, her husband Peter Winn and their sons, Ethan and Sasha; a son, David Allen Gronewold, his wife Catherine and their children, Andrew and Elizabeth; and daughter, Marcia Gronewold Sly, her husband Peter Sly and his sons, Matt and Blair; three great-grandchildren; six nieces and nephews and their families; many cousins; and countless friends.
Bud excelled at anything he put his mind to, and the range of his achievements is extraordinary.
A 1938 graduate of Farmington High School, Bud attended Bradley University, first majoring in music and then automotive mechanics, skills that served him well throughout his life.
His education was interrupted by WWII, when he joined the Navy. A licensed pilot before entering the service, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station and became a flight instructor, teaching aerobatics in Stearman open-cockpit biplanes. While stationed at NAS Ottumwa, Iowa, he met Jean, a Navy WAVE who was a control tower operator. Bud achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and flew the OS2U Kingfisher and the R4D (DC-3) on transport missions from Miami to locations throughout South America.
After the war, Bud was headed for a career as an airline pilot in Denver. On the way, he took Jean to meet his folks at the family farm in Trivoli. They never left. Bud farmed the land for most of his life, taking the farm from a horse-driven operation to a fully mechanized enterprise, contributing many inventions and innovations along the way.
He was an early environmentalist with a great love of the land and living creatures.
A director of the Peoria Soil and Water Conservation District, he introduced such progressive methods as grass waterways and terracing to prevent soil erosion.
Bud was an accomplished pianist who loved to improvise on jazz standards of the 1920s, '30s and '40s, often drawing Jean into harmonizing in a medley of favorites.
Bud's affiliation with the Bradley Flying Association enabled him to keep up his love of flying. He and Jean visited family and friends all over the country, Bud flying and Jean working the radio.
After retiring from active farming, Bud devoted much of his time to fine woodworking, which he had learned at Bradley. In his fully equipped shop, he created exquisite items out of select hardwoods, much of it dried in the solar kiln he converted from a chicken coop, from Shaker tables and grandfather clocks to spice boxes and intricately turned pieces.
Bud spent his life in service to the community as a member of boards of local schools, Trivoli Farmers Co-op and Trivoli Methodist Church, where he also was a lay leader and sang in the choir. The altar and cross he designed and built for the church have been focal points of the congregations worship for several generations.
Not inclined to shy away from controversial issues, Bud served on the Selective Service committee during the difficult years of the war in Vietnam.
He will be remembered for his generosity, selfless leadership and unwavering integrity.
A private graveside service is planned, with a celebration of Bud's life to be held later this summer at Lutheran Hillside Village.
The family requests contributions in Bud's memory be made to Farmington Central Academic Foundation, c/o Heritage Bank, P.O. Box 98, Trivoli, IL 61569, or the Alzheimer`s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria, IL 61614.
A resident of Lutheran Hillside Village for the past year, he was born on April 19, 1920, in Trivoli to Herman H. and Jessie Mae (Garrison) Gronewold.
His death came just weeks after that of his wife of 62 years, Eleanor Jean Gronewold, whom he married on Jan. 13, 1946.
Bud also was preceded in death by his brothers, Berne and Clyde.
He leaves a daughter, Sue Ellen Gronewold, her husband Peter Winn and their sons, Ethan and Sasha; a son, David Allen Gronewold, his wife Catherine and their children, Andrew and Elizabeth; and daughter, Marcia Gronewold Sly, her husband Peter Sly and his sons, Matt and Blair; three great-grandchildren; six nieces and nephews and their families; many cousins; and countless friends.
Bud excelled at anything he put his mind to, and the range of his achievements is extraordinary.
A 1938 graduate of Farmington High School, Bud attended Bradley University, first majoring in music and then automotive mechanics, skills that served him well throughout his life.
His education was interrupted by WWII, when he joined the Navy. A licensed pilot before entering the service, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station and became a flight instructor, teaching aerobatics in Stearman open-cockpit biplanes. While stationed at NAS Ottumwa, Iowa, he met Jean, a Navy WAVE who was a control tower operator. Bud achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and flew the OS2U Kingfisher and the R4D (DC-3) on transport missions from Miami to locations throughout South America.
After the war, Bud was headed for a career as an airline pilot in Denver. On the way, he took Jean to meet his folks at the family farm in Trivoli. They never left. Bud farmed the land for most of his life, taking the farm from a horse-driven operation to a fully mechanized enterprise, contributing many inventions and innovations along the way.
He was an early environmentalist with a great love of the land and living creatures.
A director of the Peoria Soil and Water Conservation District, he introduced such progressive methods as grass waterways and terracing to prevent soil erosion.
Bud was an accomplished pianist who loved to improvise on jazz standards of the 1920s, '30s and '40s, often drawing Jean into harmonizing in a medley of favorites.
Bud's affiliation with the Bradley Flying Association enabled him to keep up his love of flying. He and Jean visited family and friends all over the country, Bud flying and Jean working the radio.
After retiring from active farming, Bud devoted much of his time to fine woodworking, which he had learned at Bradley. In his fully equipped shop, he created exquisite items out of select hardwoods, much of it dried in the solar kiln he converted from a chicken coop, from Shaker tables and grandfather clocks to spice boxes and intricately turned pieces.
Bud spent his life in service to the community as a member of boards of local schools, Trivoli Farmers Co-op and Trivoli Methodist Church, where he also was a lay leader and sang in the choir. The altar and cross he designed and built for the church have been focal points of the congregations worship for several generations.
Not inclined to shy away from controversial issues, Bud served on the Selective Service committee during the difficult years of the war in Vietnam.
He will be remembered for his generosity, selfless leadership and unwavering integrity.
A private graveside service is planned, with a celebration of Bud's life to be held later this summer at Lutheran Hillside Village.
The family requests contributions in Bud's memory be made to Farmington Central Academic Foundation, c/o Heritage Bank, P.O. Box 98, Trivoli, IL 61569, or the Alzheimer`s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria, IL 61614.
Trivoli - Herman Jobe "Bud" Gronewold of Trivoli died on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria.
A resident of Lutheran Hillside Village for the past year, he was born on April 19, 1920, in Trivoli to Herman H. and Jessie Mae (Garrison) Gronewold.
His death came just weeks after that of his wife of 62 years, Eleanor Jean Gronewold, whom he married on Jan. 13, 1946.
Bud also was preceded in death by his brothers, Berne and Clyde.
He leaves a daughter, Sue Ellen Gronewold, her husband Peter Winn and their sons, Ethan and Sasha; a son, David Allen Gronewold, his wife Catherine and their children, Andrew and Elizabeth; and daughter, Marcia Gronewold Sly, her husband Peter Sly and his sons, Matt and Blair; three great-grandchildren; six nieces and nephews and their families; many cousins; and countless friends.
Bud excelled at anything he put his mind to, and the range of his achievements is extraordinary.
A 1938 graduate of Farmington High School, Bud attended Bradley University, first majoring in music and then automotive mechanics, skills that served him well throughout his life.
His education was interrupted by WWII, when he joined the Navy. A licensed pilot before entering the service, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station and became a flight instructor, teaching aerobatics in Stearman open-cockpit biplanes. While stationed at NAS Ottumwa, Iowa, he met Jean, a Navy WAVE who was a control tower operator. Bud achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and flew the OS2U Kingfisher and the R4D (DC-3) on transport missions from Miami to locations throughout South America.
After the war, Bud was headed for a career as an airline pilot in Denver. On the way, he took Jean to meet his folks at the family farm in Trivoli. They never left. Bud farmed the land for most of his life, taking the farm from a horse-driven operation to a fully mechanized enterprise, contributing many inventions and innovations along the way.
He was an early environmentalist with a great love of the land and living creatures.
A director of the Peoria Soil and Water Conservation District, he introduced such progressive methods as grass waterways and terracing to prevent soil erosion.
Bud was an accomplished pianist who loved to improvise on jazz standards of the 1920s, '30s and '40s, often drawing Jean into harmonizing in a medley of favorites.
Bud's affiliation with the Bradley Flying Association enabled him to keep up his love of flying. He and Jean visited family and friends all over the country, Bud flying and Jean working the radio.
After retiring from active farming, Bud devoted much of his time to fine woodworking, which he had learned at Bradley. In his fully equipped shop, he created exquisite items out of select hardwoods, much of it dried in the solar kiln he converted from a chicken coop, from Shaker tables and grandfather clocks to spice boxes and intricately turned pieces.
Bud spent his life in service to the community as a member of boards of local schools, Trivoli Farmers Co-op and Trivoli Methodist Church, where he also was a lay leader and sang in the choir. The altar and cross he designed and built for the church have been focal points of the congregations worship for several generations.
Not inclined to shy away from controversial issues, Bud served on the Selective Service committee during the difficult years of the war in Vietnam.
He will be remembered for his generosity, selfless leadership and unwavering integrity.
A private graveside service is planned, with a celebration of Bud's life to be held later this summer at Lutheran Hillside Village.
The family requests contributions in Bud's memory be made to Farmington Central Academic Foundation, c/o Heritage Bank, P.O. Box 98, Trivoli, IL 61569, or the Alzheimer`s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria, IL 61614.
A resident of Lutheran Hillside Village for the past year, he was born on April 19, 1920, in Trivoli to Herman H. and Jessie Mae (Garrison) Gronewold.
His death came just weeks after that of his wife of 62 years, Eleanor Jean Gronewold, whom he married on Jan. 13, 1946.
Bud also was preceded in death by his brothers, Berne and Clyde.
He leaves a daughter, Sue Ellen Gronewold, her husband Peter Winn and their sons, Ethan and Sasha; a son, David Allen Gronewold, his wife Catherine and their children, Andrew and Elizabeth; and daughter, Marcia Gronewold Sly, her husband Peter Sly and his sons, Matt and Blair; three great-grandchildren; six nieces and nephews and their families; many cousins; and countless friends.
Bud excelled at anything he put his mind to, and the range of his achievements is extraordinary.
A 1938 graduate of Farmington High School, Bud attended Bradley University, first majoring in music and then automotive mechanics, skills that served him well throughout his life.
His education was interrupted by WWII, when he joined the Navy. A licensed pilot before entering the service, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station and became a flight instructor, teaching aerobatics in Stearman open-cockpit biplanes. While stationed at NAS Ottumwa, Iowa, he met Jean, a Navy WAVE who was a control tower operator. Bud achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and flew the OS2U Kingfisher and the R4D (DC-3) on transport missions from Miami to locations throughout South America.
After the war, Bud was headed for a career as an airline pilot in Denver. On the way, he took Jean to meet his folks at the family farm in Trivoli. They never left. Bud farmed the land for most of his life, taking the farm from a horse-driven operation to a fully mechanized enterprise, contributing many inventions and innovations along the way.
He was an early environmentalist with a great love of the land and living creatures.
A director of the Peoria Soil and Water Conservation District, he introduced such progressive methods as grass waterways and terracing to prevent soil erosion.
Bud was an accomplished pianist who loved to improvise on jazz standards of the 1920s, '30s and '40s, often drawing Jean into harmonizing in a medley of favorites.
Bud's affiliation with the Bradley Flying Association enabled him to keep up his love of flying. He and Jean visited family and friends all over the country, Bud flying and Jean working the radio.
After retiring from active farming, Bud devoted much of his time to fine woodworking, which he had learned at Bradley. In his fully equipped shop, he created exquisite items out of select hardwoods, much of it dried in the solar kiln he converted from a chicken coop, from Shaker tables and grandfather clocks to spice boxes and intricately turned pieces.
Bud spent his life in service to the community as a member of boards of local schools, Trivoli Farmers Co-op and Trivoli Methodist Church, where he also was a lay leader and sang in the choir. The altar and cross he designed and built for the church have been focal points of the congregations worship for several generations.
Not inclined to shy away from controversial issues, Bud served on the Selective Service committee during the difficult years of the war in Vietnam.
He will be remembered for his generosity, selfless leadership and unwavering integrity.
A private graveside service is planned, with a celebration of Bud's life to be held later this summer at Lutheran Hillside Village.
The family requests contributions in Bud's memory be made to Farmington Central Academic Foundation, c/o Heritage Bank, P.O. Box 98, Trivoli, IL 61569, or the Alzheimer`s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria, IL 61614.
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