Walter “Butch” Gruel Jr., 78, of Manawa, went to his heavenly home Aug. 30, 2014, at the Theda Care Medical Center in New London. He was born on July 31, 1936, in the Town of Union, Waupaca County, son of the late Walter and Mildred (Piotter) Gruel.
Butch graduated from Little Wolf High School with the Class of 1954. He served in the Army Reserves. On Dec. 16, 1990, he was united in marriage to Elaine Schroeder Piotter at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Butch was employed as a truck driver for many years with Wickes Lumber, retiring in 2002. He enjoyed feeding and watching his birds, deer hunting, taking care of his lawn and also his father’s tractor. He’d also like to play a game or two of solitaire on his tablet. He was a member St. Mark Lutheran Church in Symco.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughter, Suzann (William) McClenahan; sons, Steven (Ginny) Gruel and Robert Gruel; special friend, Beverly Seymour; stepchildren, Elizabeth (Erv) Johnson, Eva (Douglas) Lozynski, Richard (Yvonne) Piotter and Michael (Maria) Piotter; nine grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren; an uncle, Vernon Piotter; sisters in law; nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives; and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, William “Billy;” and a stepson, Steven Piotter.
The funeral service for Butch will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Symco with the Rev. Jeffrey Smiles officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Symco. A visitation for Butch will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa and also on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials are preferred for St. Mark Lutheran Church.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Theda Care Medical Center in New London for their wonderful care and concern of Butch.
