Marie Gale (Chambers) Grunwald, aged 92, passed away peacefully on October 31 at her home in Willmar, surrounded by family. Born in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1933, she was raised on a farm with her two sisters and cherished her love for horses and 4H. After graduating high school and attending the University of Minnesota for a year, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Grunwald, with whom she shared 57 years of companionship. Marie was known for her creativity, humor, and practical jokes, often delighting family and friends with her annual Christmas letters and April Fool’s Day antics. She was deeply committed to family, faith, and community service, actively participating in Meals on Wheels, PEO, and her church.
Marie is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, her sister Marge Polacek, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, and her sister Marian Jones. A celebration of her life will be held on November 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Willmar, where she was a longtime member. Memorials may be made in her name to the church, Centra Care Hospice, or Havana Cemetery.
