August Edward "Uce" Gruetzner

August Edward “Uce” Gruetzner fell asleep in Jesus and entered eternal life with God in Heaven on May 29, 2020. He was born in Lee County, Texas on June 19, 1931 to Otto and Andanilla Gruetzner. He was reborn into God’s Kingdom through Holy Baptism on June 28, 1931 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings and confirmed his Christian faith on April 2, 1944, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas.

Uce was joined in Holy Matrimony to the love of his life, Jeri Gruetzner, April 11, 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. Along with Jeri, he later became a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin.

Uce was called to serve in the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean War. He left the Army in 1953 and started working at the family business, Gruetzner Chevrolet. When the family sold the car dealership, he started his own business in Elgin called Gruetzner Body Shop. He sold the body shop and retired in 2003.

Uce served as Post Commander at the Elgin VFW. He was a member of the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed cooking barbeque for his family, church picnics, family reunions and VFW and Fire Department events.

Uce was preceded in death by his wife, Jeri Gruetzner, parents; Otto and Andanilla Gruetzner; his father and mother in-law; Eugene and Claudia Miller, his brother Bobby Gruetzner and Bobby’s wife Jeanette, sister-in-law; Faye Gruetzner; brother in-law; Bobby Miller and Bobby’s wife Irene; his niece, Susan Fromme; and his good friend and cousin, Dorothy Henderson.

Uce is survived by his sons, Mike and his wife Joyce, Glenn and his wife Carol, Brian and his wife Rita, Chris and his wife Christy; daughter, Cynthia Gruetzner; his sister Ann Teinert and her husband Willard, brother Otto “Sonny” Gruetzner Jr., brother Jimmy Gruetzner and his wife Millie; grandchildren Stacey Wilhite and her husband Clint, Matthew Gruetzner and his wife Amanda, Katherine Gruetzner, Justin Gruetzner and his wife Page, Madison Gruetzner, Trevor Gruetzner, Will, Alex and Wesley Gruetzner; great-grandsons Zane Conder and Mason Gruetzner; step grand-children Sandy, Rusty, Major, Saige and Landon; cousin-in-law Wesley Henderson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Though we mourn because of Uce’s death, we take comfort from the truth that he was saved for everlasting resurrected life by God’s grace, through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be glory forever!

Uce’s body will lie in state on Tuesday, June 2 from 11-5 at Providence-Jones Funeral Home for viewing. Visitation will be held in the Grace Lutheran Church narthex from 9:30-11:00 on Wednesday, June 3, with the funeral to be held in the Grace Lutheran Sanctuary at 11:00 AM with burial to follow at Elgin Cemetery. Since Jeri’s funeral in April was limited in attendance, both Uce and Jeri will be remembered in the service on Wednesday. Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons.

The family requests that memorial gifts be directed to Grace Lutheran Church, 801 W. 11th Street, Elgin, Texas 78621.