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Celebrating the life of Kurt Albert Gruneberg
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Obituary for Kurt Albert Gruneberg
Our beloved father and friend Kurt Gruneberg blew this popsicle stand on 04/22/21 in a fiery zeppelin mishap high atop Mount Everest. Have you ever seen The Great Escape starring Steve McQueen? Sort of like that, only way more dangerous and way more handsome.
Kurt was well known as a thrilling storyteller, a fan of only the finest rock & soul records, a virtuoso behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle, a man who fainted at the birth of both of his children, a terrible hairstylist, a pretty damn good dancer, a danger to himself and others on skis, a loyal friend, a dedicated colleague, an adventurous spirit, a kind heart, and the best father that two unwed, unkempt, and unfazed kids could possibly have. One time in an airport Dad recognized the Pips sans Gladys Knight. Who even does that.
Kurt was born in Pascagoula Mississippi in 1950. In his youth, he fixed up motorcycles, drove an elementary school bus, and hiked in the Rockies out west, where he learned a solemn lesson that he imparted to his loved ones at each and every camping trip: “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you guys.” He started his working life as a programmer at Ingall’s and spent 17 years rising through the ranks, taking to computers and IT projects like a duck to water. As a project manager his work took him all over the southeast, from Raleigh North Carolina to Charleston South Carolina and back to Mississippi. His last project at UMMC in Jackson was among his favorites.
Kurt’s father and brother were both veterans and he took tremendous pride in their service. After retiring in 2019 he dedicated much of his time to volunteering with the VA in Jackson. Not at all slowed down by retirement, Dad was also taking creative writing classes, scuba diving, playing guitar, planning a trip to Portugal, taking nature photos, grilling out, fishing, cursing Trump, and riding his Harley. Time spent laughing with friends or out on the water was time well spent.
Kurt is preceded into the beyond by his mother and father Dale and Betty Gruneberg (née Heffley-Patterson), his brother Dale Gruneberg Jr, and his sister Billie Seybold. His legacy of top tier dad jokes is proudly carried on by his son Slayden Gruneberg and his daughter Marisa Green, his former spouses Teresa O’Neill and Rebecca Jones, the Hibbert family, and all the dear friends and extended family who loved him. We would like to thank our care team in the neuro ICU at St Dominic for their compassion.
In accordance with Dad’s last wishes we will not select the fancy urn but instead go with the plastic one that comes standard with the package. In lieu of flowers, Dad would really love for you to go on and try that new thing like you’ve been meaning to, and crank up some good music while you do. Donations in Kurt’s honor can be made to any of the following community organizations where he volunteered: VA Jackson, CARA, MS Museum of Natural Science.
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday 5/29 at the Reservoir Community Center in Brandon, 2230 Spillway Road, from 2-6p with a short program at 3p. Bring your stories. Bring your songs. Bring your masks.
Dad, we will miss you so much. We would all be fortunate to see the world with a fraction of your wonder.
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