Erwin A. Grawunder

Erwin A. Grawunder, age 88, of the Salem Community died peacefully at his home Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Mr. Grawunder was born July 28, 1921 in the Wonder Hill Community of Washington County, Texas to Ewald and Bernita (Remmert) Grawunder. He was educated at Wonder Hill School and graduated from Blinn College.

Mr. Grawunder was a veteran of World War II, having served ten months in the states and twenty-nine months overseas. He entered the service September 12, 1942 and was in the Army attached to the 716th Signal Air Warning A.W. Co. He trained first in Kansas City, Missouri for high-speed radio operation using Morse code. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant and was in charge of fourteen radio operators stationed on the Aleutian Islands at Attu, Alaska. After discharge from the service November 22, 1945, Weingartens in Houston, Texas employed him. He moved back to Brenham and was employed by Blue Bell Creameries for five years. He then began a thirty-two year career with the Brenham Coca-Cola Bottling Co., from where he retired in 1983.

He was a member of the Buddy Wright Post #48 of the American Legion, James F. Dillon Post #7104 of the V.F.W. and Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salem where he served on the church council.

On June 15, 1947 he married Erna Naumann at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. She preceded him in death September 1, 2008, after 61 years of marriage.

His loving family includes: daughter and son-in-law Dorothy McDermott and Charles Wade of Houston; granddaughter Kristin Bourgeois and husband Stephen of Rocheport, Missouri; great-granddaughter Marjorie Jane Bourgeois; brother and sister-in-law Ewald, Jr. and Alice Grawunder of Brenham; sisters and brothers-in-law Verlyn Smith, Allyne and Eddie Pollard, Gladys and Bernard Hurbrough all of Houston; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Lillie Mae and Johnnie Kramer, Nora and Lee Roy Meier, Ruth Kelling, Ruby Naumann, Evelyn Naumann all of Brenham; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be Friday, January 29th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services will be at Saturday, January 30th at 2 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church of Salem. Rev. Charles Parnell will officiate. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Lonnie Grawunder, Byron Pollard, Otto Kemper, Jr., Ronald Kelling, Donald Meier and Darrel Meier.

Memorials may be given to Salem Lutheran Church of Salem 1500 Salem Road, Brenham, Texas 77833 or Washington County EMS, 1875 Hwy 290 W, Brenham, TX 77833.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com