George Everett Gruen

March 28, 1939 – April 13, 2022

George (Everett) Gruen, 83, of Idaho Falls, passed away April 13th, 2022, peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

Everett was born March 28th,1939 in Abilene KS to Timothy George Gruen and Lola Mae (Cormack) Gruen.  He grew up on the family dairy farm. He attended schools in Abilene and graduated from Abilene high school with high marks, providing him with an academic scholarship where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from Kansas State University.

After college, Everett came to Idaho Falls to work with Phillips Petroleum in 1961 at the Idaho National Laboratory for 34 years.  Here he met his sweetheart, Jeanette Braithwaite, at the First Baptist Church where they were married after he courted her for two years.  They were married on June 27th, 1964 for 58 years.  He and Jeanette raised their two daughters Teresa (Walter) Josephson of Richland, WA, and Amy (Gill) Hellmund of Marina Del Rey, CA.

He enjoyed spending time with his family in the beautiful Idaho outdoors.  Much of his free time was spent bicycling, swimming, and hiking with friends and family.  Moving into retirement he had a passion for going on extended RV trips with his wife in the Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, and even the Baja peninsula of Mexico.

He enjoyed playing music, square dancing, RV traveling to bluegrass festivals and quilt shows.  He and Jeanette were staff at the Sun Valley Jazz Festival for many years.  He enjoyed volunteering his time with friends at AARP tax-aide.

He and Jeanette were members of the First Baptist Church and Watersprings Church of Idaho Falls.

The family would like to thank Aspen Home Health and Hospice for the wonderful care given to Everett, with special thanks to Alexis, Deb, and Mary.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Ronald Eugene Gruen and Donald C. Gruen.  He is survived by his wife Jeanette Gruen, brother Timothy Lee Gruen, sister Donna Kooken and his children Teresa and Amy.

A memorial service will be held, Friday, April 22nd at 11:00 am at the Wood Funeral Home East Side.  Pastor Gordon Boyle will be officiating.  Burial will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family at Wood Funeral Home

 

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