William J. 'Bill' Grueter

Grueter, William J. "Bill" MADISON/WATERFORD-William J. Grueter, age 94, of Madison, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. He was born on Feb. 25, 1917, on the family farm in Burlington to John and Clementine (Kasner) Grueter. He received his early education at St. Charles and Duckett schools and went on to attend MSOE in Milwaukee where he trained in welding and blue print reading. Bill married Luetta Mae Grant on Feb. 14, 1942, in Milwaukee. During the war, they moved to San Francisco, Calif., where he worked in the naval yard doing ship repair. Upon returning to Wisconsin, he worked with various steamfitter contractors including working in Greenland for two years installing power plants and heating systems at Thule Air Force Base during Project Blue Jay. Bill was a member of Local Steamfitter Union No. 601 for over 60 years. In 1955, he built the family home in Waterford where he raised his family and resided until moving to Madison in 2008. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church where he was involved in Holy Name, Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, travel and looked forward to the annual Grueter Family Picnic. Survivors include his children, Janice (Edward) Glynn of Madison, Gary (Diane) of Sun Prairie; grandchildren, Kimberly, Kari, Chad, Erin, Elizabeth, Ethan and Emily; 10 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Leonard Kressin; brothers, Phillip and Roman (Marie); sisters, Marietta Grueter and Grace Lohaus; sister-in-law, Margaret Grueter; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Luetta; daughter, Nancy Kressin; sisters, Cecelia Stevens and Julia Luzinski; and brothers, Fred, Edward and John Grueter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, 305 First Street, Waterford, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2011, with Father Gene Doda presiding. Burial will be held at Wisconsin Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Memorials may be made to HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711. Memorials: Memorials may be made to HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711. Cemetery: Burial will be held at Wisconsin Memorial Park. Visitation: Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, 305 First Street, Waterford, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2011, with Father Gene Doda presiding.