Keith A. Groenwald, born May 24, 1948, died March 25, 2019 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN after a 4-1/2-year journey with esophageal cancer.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Richard Groenwald, and by his daughter, Julie.
He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Susan (Grosser) Groenwald; his son Peter Groenwald and wife Isaaca Byrd Groenwald; granddaughters Amelia and Goldie Groenwald; sister Laurel Rabjohns (Eric); brother Rich Groenwald (Marjorie); 16 nieces and nephews along with many close friends.
Keith and Susan were lifelong residents of Chicago until moving to the Nashville area in 2018 to be close to their son and his family. Keith met his wife Susan Grosser at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL where they were later married.
Keith attended York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. He has a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College in IL, and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.
Keith served in a reserve division of the Army’s 12th Special Forces from 1970-1976. His early career in business included Daubert Chemical Company, Gooding Rubber Company, and Exchange Parts of America. In 1981, Keith and Susan started BarterCorp, with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Northwest Indiana; the business was sold in 1999. For the past ten years, Keith has been general manager of Essential Products in Bedford Park, IL, a role that he considered a major highlight of his career and life because he was working with his best friend. He relished the many friends he made over the years in his various business roles.
Keith was a raving fan of his children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was a boatsman and loved having family and friends visit the family lakehouse in New Buffalo, MI and more recently in Hendersonville, TN.
A celebration of Keith’s life will take place at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus in Oakbrook, IL on Sunday April 14, 2018 from 1-6pm. Click here for further information and to RSVP.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN. You can donate securely online at www.alivehospice.org.
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Luke Powers
March 28, 2019 at 6:03 pmLove and prayers to the Groenwald family. Keith always treated me like family – an extension of how he treated Cindy. And he always treated Heidi and Eric like grandchildren. I’ll miss him. Feels like family
Maureen Shekleton
March 28, 2019 at 8:13 pmSo sorry for your loss.
Sara & JJ & Lena
March 28, 2019 at 11:54 pmThis was so beautifully written. We love you and are eager to see you in a few weeks. Xo
Margaret Ostergard
March 29, 2019 at 8:27 amI feel very lucky to have had Keith as a close friend . Keith had a way of making everyone around him welcome and comfortable. He was one of the nicest humans I’ve ever known. He will be so missed. He handled his disease with such grace . I am sad for Susan, Peter, Isaaca, and his grandchildren who have to experience life without him.
Dorothy Crowe
April 1, 2019 at 7:42 amDear Lord, help The Groenwald family to have a love that perseveres through hard times. Help them to love the way you’ve called them to love. Give them hope, strength and wisdom as only You can do. You know they need it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
John and Gerda Dykstra
April 2, 2019 at 7:58 pmOur thoughts of Keith are always having great fun together. He was always concerned for others. We will miss him greatly, but have great memories over the years of during thing together. Keith is with the Lord and is no longer in any pain or sorrow!
Paul and Joanna Hettinga
April 4, 2019 at 9:23 amNo amount of clever words can capture what is truly in our hearts – and the profound sadness we all share over Losing Keith. We all love him so much and we’re so loved by him. He will be missed forever and be remembered with great warmth in our hearts forever as well. While we look forward to celebrating his life together in a couple weeks, today – we’re weeping alongside all of you as we try to learn how to live without our good friend and partner alongside us.
With much love…
Paul and Joanna
Phyllis Malitz and Mike Regan
April 9, 2019 at 4:34 pmWe are overwhelmed with sadness at losing Keith. We feel very grateful to have had him in our lives. Keith was kind, loving, generous, warm, welcoming and courages.
We will mss him forever.
With love
Phyllis and Mike