
Elizabeth Ann Grunewalder
Obituary
It is with great sorrow that our family announces the passing of our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend Elizabeth Ann (Wiese) Grunewalder into the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 2, 2025 at her home in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina under the care of hospice and her loving family.
Elizabeth (Beth) was born to L. Allen and Irma King Wiese on October 5, 1953 in Jamestown, North Dakota. She attended Jamestown schools where she excelled in academics, swimming and band. After high school, she moved to West Fargo, North Dakota to attend North Dakota State University. She met her husband, John “Rusty” Grunewalder there, and after his graduation they moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where they married in 1976.
Beth graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS degree in Pharmacy and began her professional career at the Western Psychiatric Institution. Their next move was to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she worked as a pharmacist for a home healthcare agency. She received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin.
Beth’s and Rusty’s careers next took them to Greensboro, North Carolina where she worked for Moses Cone Hospital until she retired and they moved to Ocean Isle Beach. Beth enjoyed music, singing in both their church choir and the Ocean Ridge Singers, golf, gardening, reading, going on numerous cruises with Rusty and other family and friends, and was involved in many activities in her community. Beth also enjoyed mentoring/teaching pharmacy students. She is remembered by her family and friends as being kind, loving, thoughtful and always ready to assist others. Her warm smile and caring spirit brightened the lives of all who knew her.
Beth’s greatest passion in her life was caring for and loving her family. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Rusty, daughter Kristin (Christopher) Malone, Virginia Beach, Virginia; son Andrew Brower, Monroe, Wisconsin; grandchildren Kira and Caleb Malone and Jake and Jenna Brower; sisters Joan (Jon) Slusser, Jamestown, North Dakota and Connie (Clemens) Clooten, Fairbanks, Alaska; brother-in-law, Rodney Femrite, Ocean Isle Beach, special cousins Carol Powers and Karen Wiese, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and loyal grandpuppy, Moose.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Pamela Femrite, and her in-laws, Valentine and Anne Grunewalder.
Beth’s memorial service is planned for October 11, 2025 at 3 PM at Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Ocean Isle Beach. The family suggests that any memorial donations be made to the church.
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