Alf H. Gruener

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Alf H. Gruener, best known as “Paps” to us. Born and raised in Germany, Bavaria to be exact, Paps carried a deep devotion and love for his roots. It was a mantra he lived by every day: two precious things to give your children: one is roots, the other is wings. Throughout his life, wings have been around all of us, from overseas travels to pilot’s licenses (yes, mom and dad and both kids earned pilot’s licenses) to spreading our wings across the country. Always deeply rooted in the strength and beliefs dad instilled. Paps spent his life as a devoted researcher and doctor to find cures and better treatments for his patients, while also finding time to enjoy driving his beloved 1973 Corvette Stingray, dubbed Big Blue. Big Blue because she boasted a 502 engine, and dad sure liked her speed the most. Paps loved his family, flying airplanes (sometimes upside down), driving Big Blue, gardening, and telling great stories of his travels through Europe. Life’s journey landed him in South Carolina, and rooted in his beliefs he wished to be laid to rest here where his journey ended. Alongside him will rest our dear mother, Jutta B. Gruener, whom we suddenly lost on April 15, 2024.

Our cherished parents are survived by their children and our families: daughter Marcy Stumpf of Denver, CO (husband John and grand-daughter Amelia) and son Michael Gruener of Indianapolis, IN (wife Victoria, grand-daughter Adriana, and grand-son Jack), and by dad’s sister Billie Schnorrer of Munich, Germany (husband Rainer and son Max).

A small burial with immediate family will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Rock Hill, SC.