Kenneth E. “Ken” Gruenberg, age 89 of Monroe, WI passed away Friday, May, 15 2026, at the Monroe Hospice Home. Ken was born May 21, 1936 to Reinhold W. and Helen S. (Schutt) Gruenberg on the family farm on Hwy 81 in Jordan Township, right behind Klondike Cheese Corp. The house he was born and raised in is now known as the Klondike Farm House. He attended grade school at the Jordan Township School House and Graduated from Monroe High School in 1955. In the early 1950’s Ken became extremely sick and was diagnosed with polio in his throat. He missed his entire freshman year of high school due to polio.
One of his first jobs as a teenager, off the family farm, was at Klondike Cheese working for Alvin X and Rosa Buholzer loading, unloading, and washing out milk cans from Alvin’s truck after his milk runs from local farmers. He always said that Rosa’s cooking was the best part of his job. In the early 60’s Ken started working for Monroe Cheese Corporation where he worked for over 35+ years. During that time, he also drove a milk route every weekend and on the Holidays for Royal F. Karlen Trucking. After retiring from Monroe Cheese, he then started driving the milk route for Royal full-time and did that for many years until retiring in 2005. After retiring for the second time, he realized he needed something to keep busy with so he started working at Keep’er Clean Car Wash in Monroe which he really enjoyed.
Ken was very passionate about how his house and yard looked. He always wanted it to look the nicest in the neighborhood and he worked very hard doing so. That also meant the same for his vehicles. He was always washing and waxing his truck and antique car even if they looked clean. He enjoyed antiques and shopping for unique items that he collected. He was a member of the Monroe Moose Lodge in Monroe and shot on their pool league team from many years. He loved the game of pool and if someone laid a dollar on the edge of the table to bet on a game, they were bound to lose it.
Ken is survived by his sister, Kathryn Gruenberg, of Stoughton, WI; his children, Patricia (James) Schmitz of Burlington, WI, Debra (Todd Baker) Gruenberg of Monroe, WI, and Steven (Lisa) Gruenberg of Monroe, WI; four grandchildren, Chadwick (Shelley) Schmitz of Waterford, WI, Curtis (Tara) Schmitz of Kenosha, WI, Barret Gruenberg of Brookfield, WI, and Avery Gruenberg of Oregon, WI; four great-grandchildren; three nephews; a very special cousin, Mary Jane Robertson, and his black kitty named Joey. He was preceded in death by his parents; his partner, Carol Hoffman of 47 years; his daughter, Teresa Gruenberg; his brother, Glenn Gruenberg; and a niece, Laurie Gruenberg.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at the Monroe Hospice Home for all of the care and kindness they have given, and a very special thank you to Barb Seffrood and Amanda Schaller for their extra special care of our dad.
Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family. Cremation rites will be accorded with a private family graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Condolences may be left online at www.shgfuneralhome.com
