Joseph "Joe" Henry Gruenwald, 72, of Warner, SD, passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Avantara Redfield. His family will host a prayer service at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at St. Mary's Chapel in Zell, SD with burial to follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Zell.  A light lunch will be served after the burial at the church fellowship hall.

Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield, SD has assisted the family. (www.hykefuneralhome.com)

Joseph was born August 14, 1949, in Aberdeen, SD to Jerome and Carolyn (Moeller) of Zell, SD. He grew up on a family farm outside of Zell with his 14 siblings. As a child, Joe helped out on the family farm: milking cows, raising pigs and chickens, and tending to a large garden. As a teen, he worked at Harry's Egg Station in Redfield.

After an older brother, Michael, was killed in action in the Vietnam War in 1969, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was a MPC with the 504 Company and served honorably until 1971. After returning home to South Dakota, he married Teresa Palmer in Zell in August.

Joe's career as "The Meat Man" started soon after. He was taught how to cut meat from his father-in-law, Dean Palmer; and lived and worked cutting meat in Mellette and Doland, SD and later in Park River, ND where he worked at Dwayne's Jack & Jill. In 1974, he and Teresa moved to Cleveland, OH for more opportunity and worked for Fazio's Costa (Fisher Food) supermarkets.

Returning to South Dakota in 1979, Joe worked as a meat cutter for Dean's Jack & Jill in Redfield, and eventually for other owners of that same grocery store. He also would apprentice other "meat-men" over that time. In 1996, Joe moved to Aberdeen, then Warner, and worked at Kessler's grocery store as a full and part-time meat cutter and as a maintenance technician for a few years at the Federal Building in Aberdeen.

Joe had a love for gardening, canning anything, cooking, fishing, and deer and pheasant hunting. He delighted in showing off his latest project, teaching people how to can, and giving away his garden vegetables or his canned pickles, jam, or salsa. Music was ever present in Joe's life. Listening to music from Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, and other music from the 60s and 70s gave him the most peace. Joe was also a member of the Volunteer Mellette and Redfield Fire Departments.

Joseph is survived by his children, Amy (Rick) Ochs, Jaime (Perlita) Gruenwald, Melissa (David) Krueger, Mindy (Ryan) Foltz, Jesse Gruenwald, and Joshua Gruenwald, along with 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his companion, Ruby Wallace. He is also survived by his siblings: Norita Rice, Wilfred (Patty) Gruenwald, Karen (Dennis) Lau, Janice (Bill) Winegar, Betty Moore, Mary Wurtz, Richard (Bette) Gruenwald, Jerry (Jacquie) Gruenwald, Doug Gruenwald; brother-in-law, Roald Amundson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Francis Gruenwald, Michael Gruenwald, Margaret Owen, Jean Wallman, Irene Amundson, and brothers-in-law: Dick Rice and Pete Wurtz.