Charles Grunow

MONONA-Charles Bainbridge Grunow, age 99, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at Heritage Assisted Living. He was born on July 6, 1913, in Mifflin, the son of Herman Grunow, who owned and operated the Grunow Lead and Zinc Mine in Mifflin, near Mineral Point, and Ella (Bainbridge) Grunow. He graduated as a member of the honor society from Central High School in 1932, and UW-Madison in 1937 with a degree in business and accounting. Charles was a member of Beta Alpha Psi fraternity. He was hired as the assistant controller of the Minnesota Valley Canning Company, which later became a branch of Green Giant. In 1942, Charles entered military service during World War II. He served more than 3 years in the U.S. Army Air Force as a radio operator in the Army Airways Communication System stationed at the U.S. air base in Galena, Alaska, midway between Fairbanks and Nome, monitoring flights of fighter planes supplied by the U.S. and being flown from Fairbanks to Russia to aid in the allied war effort. Charles was given a special commendation for his service under severe conditions, peculiar to Canada and Alaska. He married Jessie Rugaard on Dec. 3, 1946, in St. Louis, Mo. Charles worked as an accountant in the UW’s controller’s office in Madison. Later as a member of the administrative budget office, he played a major role in writing instructions for implementing the new computer accounting system used throughout the newly merged UW System. Charles was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, where he ushered for thirty years. He is survived by his children, Lynne Welter of St. Paul, Minn. and Carol Garcia of San Antonio, Texas and two grandchildren, Michelle Glueck and Dietz Glueck. In addition to his loving wife, Jessie, Charles was preceded in death by his sister, Marion Toll. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Private burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 A.M. until the time of service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Horizon. Cemetery: Private burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Horizon. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 A.M. until the time of service on Wednesday. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.