Ken Grutza passed away peacefully at 92 years of age surrounded with the love of his family on August 12, 2022.

Ken was born October 20, 1929 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Pulaski High School (Milwaukee) and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He served in the United States Army as a communications engineer during the Korean War.

When Ken was a teenager, his parents purchased a beautiful turn of the Century lakeside resort in Manitowish Waters Wisconsin. Here, in this stunningly beautiful setting, Ken's passionate devotion to the Northwoods began. He helped his parents with the property every chance he got, including installing all the electricity and plumbing in the resort himself.  The resort, Quo Vadis, became a wonderfully successful gathering place for many families to vacation at year after year. It brought joy to Ken to help his parents live out their dream of operating the resort.

The legacy of Northwoods love has been passed on through Ken to his children and their children. The sound of the loons or the wind in the pines runs through our souls. We are forever grateful for Ken teaching us how to care for and love the Northwoods as fervently as he did. In the final days before he passed, his daughter Kathleen played for him the sounds of the loons and owls. Despite the previous few days of Ken having minimal responsiveness, Ken managed to beam one final smile at those sounds.  There is no doubt how much the Northwoods has captured his heart, and ours.

Ken was a devoted husband to his wife Kay (Kathryn B. Grutza). They were married 51 years before she passed in 2011. He was there by her side every step of the way. Their marriage became the iconic gold standard for both of his kids and many of our friends. A truly rare love. We are joyful and confident that they are together again at last.

Ken was also a very loving father. He had a calm temperament and a joyful way about him. Despite the very hectic reality of taking care of his wife, 2 children, his business, our beautiful home in Northbrook, Illinois and the resort in Wisconsin- Ken never acted overburdened. Without comment or delay, he just went about the business at hand. He took care of it. He took care of all of us. He was wonderful, generous, and beguilingly smart. It seemed he knew the answers for everything, literally everything. He was an ingenious problem solver. There was so much to learn and gain from him. That never stopped. Even in the scary and difficult times over the last several years with his health, he has taught us so much. He taught about love, perseverance and devotion. This was a man who defied the odds time and time again. Ken taught us how to walk by faith and not by sight.

Ken was a friend to everyone he met. He had the most amazing capacity to turn even the fiercest of his business competitors into friends. He was kind and patient, knowledgeable and articulate. We would try to walk into a hardware store for a simple bolt, and he would be not only talking to all his friends but making new ones every time! The simple joy of spending time talking with people. An hour or so later, we came out with that bolt and some new friends. Amazing.

Ken is survived by his daughter Kathleen MacArthur and her 3 kids, Grant, Ryan and Kianna, and also by his son Kenneth C. Grutza and his 4 kids Daniel, Hannah, David and Matthew, as well as 3 great grandchildren.

Ken will be deeply missed. There is joy in knowing that he peaceful, he is loved and he is home.

Friends may call on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 from 9:30AM to 10:30AM at the Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, 745 NE 6th Avenue, Delray Beach followed by an 11:00AM funeral Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach.  Burial will follow with military honors at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery 10941 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, FL.

Please Click on the Link to Watch the Live-Stream of the Funeral Mass: : https://stvincentferrer.com/funerals/kenneth-kathryn-grutza/