1924
Susan
2018
Susan Marie Gruenther
April 5, 1924 — February 23, 2018
Susan Marie Gruenther (nee Mannheimer) was born April 5, 1924 to Isabelle and Carl Mannheimer. She had three siblings: Carl, her older brother, and Elsa and Mary, her younger sisters. The family was raised in St. Paul Minnesota until Susan was 11 years old.
In 1935, they moved to White Bear Lake, where Sue attended White Bear High School, class of 1941. She performed as a drum major of the marching band and was editor of the newspaper and yearbook. She then went to University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, graduating with an AA degree.
Soon after, she entered military service, going to the Bronx for her enlisted personnel boot training as "Hospital Apprentice First Class." She became a WWII Navy WAVE in 1945, working in burn specialty hospitals – first in Farragut, Idaho for 6 months, then in Bremerton, Washington State for 6 months. When the war ended, Susan was discharged and returned to her home in Minnesota. Wishing to go back to school, she decided on Rasmusen Business School, after which she worked for Reid Ray Film Company as a secretary.
When the Red Cross contacted Susan looking for paid workers to go overseas, she jumped at the chance. To her excitement, they assigned her to Japan. Taking only her tennis and ski clothes – and her uniform – she set off on a troop ship, staying on the officer's deck for the long journey. In Japan, Susan worked for the American Red Cross Field Service as the "Secretary to Field Director." Her first assignments: offices in Tokyo and Yokohama. Her boss asked her to do short stints at different locations as a "temp." Under this assignment, she was sent to the northern island of Hokkaido – as she described: one month of freezing cold and rats – then to Fort Schimmelphenig, outside of Sendai – which turned out to be a much more fortuitous adventure...
At Fort Schimmelphenig, on Halloween 1949, and at 25 years old, Sue went to a dance with a date – it so happens, a classmate of her future husband. Upon asking who there plays tennis (a solid requirement for a potential suitor), she was introduced to Dick and they went out together for the duration of her assignment there. Going back to her main job in Tokyo, she lived in a women's hotel and Dick invited her up to Schimmelphenig on weekends. She would take the 9pm train out of Tokyo with a sleep-in berth, and would arrive 6am to Dick galantly waiting at the station in a jeep. By chance, a job opened at Fort Schimmelphenig and Sue took it readily. Sue and Dick were then able to spend much time together skiing, playing tennis, and also had a sailboat made to take boat trips on Sjiagama Lake.
Eight wonderful months later, Sue and Dick decided not to wait to get stateside and they married at Fort Schimmelphenig on June 17, 1950.
In 1935, they moved to White Bear Lake, where Sue attended White Bear High School, class of 1941. She performed as a drum major of the marching band and was editor of the newspaper and yearbook. She then went to University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, graduating with an AA degree.
Soon after, she entered military service, going to the Bronx for her enlisted personnel boot training as "Hospital Apprentice First Class." She became a WWII Navy WAVE in 1945, working in burn specialty hospitals – first in Farragut, Idaho for 6 months, then in Bremerton, Washington State for 6 months. When the war ended, Susan was discharged and returned to her home in Minnesota. Wishing to go back to school, she decided on Rasmusen Business School, after which she worked for Reid Ray Film Company as a secretary.
When the Red Cross contacted Susan looking for paid workers to go overseas, she jumped at the chance. To her excitement, they assigned her to Japan. Taking only her tennis and ski clothes – and her uniform – she set off on a troop ship, staying on the officer's deck for the long journey. In Japan, Susan worked for the American Red Cross Field Service as the "Secretary to Field Director." Her first assignments: offices in Tokyo and Yokohama. Her boss asked her to do short stints at different locations as a "temp." Under this assignment, she was sent to the northern island of Hokkaido – as she described: one month of freezing cold and rats – then to Fort Schimmelphenig, outside of Sendai – which turned out to be a much more fortuitous adventure...
At Fort Schimmelphenig, on Halloween 1949, and at 25 years old, Sue went to a dance with a date – it so happens, a classmate of her future husband. Upon asking who there plays tennis (a solid requirement for a potential suitor), she was introduced to Dick and they went out together for the duration of her assignment there. Going back to her main job in Tokyo, she lived in a women's hotel and Dick invited her up to Schimmelphenig on weekends. She would take the 9pm train out of Tokyo with a sleep-in berth, and would arrive 6am to Dick galantly waiting at the station in a jeep. By chance, a job opened at Fort Schimmelphenig and Sue took it readily. Sue and Dick were then able to spend much time together skiing, playing tennis, and also had a sailboat made to take boat trips on Sjiagama Lake.
Eight wonderful months later, Sue and Dick decided not to wait to get stateside and they married at Fort Schimmelphenig on June 17, 1950.
Military & Family Life
Three days after returning from their honeymoon, the Korean War started and Dick was sent into combat there. He was seriously wounded and was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington to recover and get back to his military duty.
Throughout his career, Dick was stationed at numerous military bases, making relocations a regular event. The sequence of their base assignments was:
West Point, New York (1952-55)
Fort Benning, Georgia (1955-56)
Heilbrun, Germany (1957-59)
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (1959-63)
Arlington, Virginia (1964-68)
West Point, New York (1969-73)
Hampton, Virginia (1973-75)
During this active military life, Sue and Dick raised six lively children, all of whom inherited their parents' love of sports, outdoor adventures, music and art.
With tennis as their sport of choice, the couple played regularly wherever they were stationed. They also loved to play squash, ski, sail and swim. They encouraged their children to also enjoy and excel at these, plus a myriad of other activities, such as horseback riding, skating, and camping.
Both Sue and Dick also passed on their love of music. Family sing-a-longs were a regular event growing up in the Gruenther household. Sue was a budding actress with a booming singing voice and performed in many musical theater productions, including "Guys and Dolls" and "Carousel." Her creative juices flowed even further, with a real knack for decorating and antique collecting. With a keen eye for quality, she found and refurbished many treasures, and made a very beautiful home for her family.
Three days after returning from their honeymoon, the Korean War started and Dick was sent into combat there. He was seriously wounded and was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington to recover and get back to his military duty.
Throughout his career, Dick was stationed at numerous military bases, making relocations a regular event. The sequence of their base assignments was:
West Point, New York (1952-55)
Fort Benning, Georgia (1955-56)
Heilbrun, Germany (1957-59)
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (1959-63)
Arlington, Virginia (1964-68)
West Point, New York (1969-73)
Hampton, Virginia (1973-75)
During this active military life, Sue and Dick raised six lively children, all of whom inherited their parents' love of sports, outdoor adventures, music and art.
With tennis as their sport of choice, the couple played regularly wherever they were stationed. They also loved to play squash, ski, sail and swim. They encouraged their children to also enjoy and excel at these, plus a myriad of other activities, such as horseback riding, skating, and camping.
Both Sue and Dick also passed on their love of music. Family sing-a-longs were a regular event growing up in the Gruenther household. Sue was a budding actress with a booming singing voice and performed in many musical theater productions, including "Guys and Dolls" and "Carousel." Her creative juices flowed even further, with a real knack for decorating and antique collecting. With a keen eye for quality, she found and refurbished many treasures, and made a very beautiful home for her family.
Retirement
When Dick retired in 1975 from 30 years of active service, they moved back to the Hudson Valley where he went to work for the West Point Association of Graduates for another 14 years. During this time, Sue was a volunteer guide at Constitution Island, giving historical tours in period costume of the Warner House. She also crafted, sold and gifted many knit dolls that represented Susan and Anna Warner and other figures from the Revolutionary War.
For closer proximity to family, and to be able to enjoy their active life year-round, Dick and Sue fully retired to St. Augustine Florida in 1997. Dick served as president of their Condo Association Chapter and Sue devoted much generous time to regular volunteer work at the Lightner Museum and other local organizations. (Lightner link above goes to "In lieu of flowers.")
In March of 2015, Dick passed away peacefully at home. Sue continued to live at their home in St. Augustine until late 2017, when she moved to a lovely retirement community in Jacksonville – staying close to her children living in the area.
Susan passed away peacefully on February 23, 2018 at 7:40 pm at Brookdale Atrium Way in Jacksonville Florida. She was comforted by her family around her throughout her final weeks.
Susan is preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents Isabelle and Carl Mannheimer, and her brother Carl Mannheimer II. She is survived by her sisters, Elsa Carpenter and Mary Hauser, and her six children – Richard Gruenther of Tampa FL; Joan Swider of Jacksonville FL; Pat Conway of St. Augustine FL; Paul Gruenther of Jacksonville FL; Max Gruenther of New Orleans LA; and Laura Gruenther Crotty (Russell Crotty) of Ojai CA – along with 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
When Dick retired in 1975 from 30 years of active service, they moved back to the Hudson Valley where he went to work for the West Point Association of Graduates for another 14 years. During this time, Sue was a volunteer guide at Constitution Island, giving historical tours in period costume of the Warner House. She also crafted, sold and gifted many knit dolls that represented Susan and Anna Warner and other figures from the Revolutionary War.
For closer proximity to family, and to be able to enjoy their active life year-round, Dick and Sue fully retired to St. Augustine Florida in 1997. Dick served as president of their Condo Association Chapter and Sue devoted much generous time to regular volunteer work at the Lightner Museum and other local organizations. (Lightner link above goes to "In lieu of flowers.")
In March of 2015, Dick passed away peacefully at home. Sue continued to live at their home in St. Augustine until late 2017, when she moved to a lovely retirement community in Jacksonville – staying close to her children living in the area.
Susan passed away peacefully on February 23, 2018 at 7:40 pm at Brookdale Atrium Way in Jacksonville Florida. She was comforted by her family around her throughout her final weeks.
Susan is preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents Isabelle and Carl Mannheimer, and her brother Carl Mannheimer II. She is survived by her sisters, Elsa Carpenter and Mary Hauser, and her six children – Richard Gruenther of Tampa FL; Joan Swider of Jacksonville FL; Pat Conway of St. Augustine FL; Paul Gruenther of Jacksonville FL; Max Gruenther of New Orleans LA; and Laura Gruenther Crotty (Russell Crotty) of Ojai CA – along with 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
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