May 25, 1924 - Nov. 28, 2015
Date of Service: Dec. 5, 2015
Milo Thomas Gruwell
BURLEY – Tom Gruwell, a legacy of optimism and hard work. Milo Thomas Gruwell died of natural causes at age 91 on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Mesa, Ariz. He had been living with his daughter, Jeananne, and her husband, Charles, in Apache Junction, Ariz., for the past six years.
He was preceded in death by wives, Elaine Moon Gruwell and Eleene Rogers Gruwell; his daughter, Jan; and all his siblings and their spouses.
He leaves behind his children, Lynda (Stephen) Cook, Tom (Jan) Gruwell, and Jeananne (Charles) Hornbarger; stepchildren, Nancy (Dee) Lear, Kay (Tim) Benedict, Anne (Garth) Oborn, Paula (Jay) Ricks, David (Kendra) Burton, Doug (Tracy) Burton, and Glen Burton. He also leaves numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was born May 25, 1924, in View, Idaho, to Lester James and Estella Robinson Gruwell. He shared priceless memories of his childhood and youth growing up on their ranch, learning the value of hard work, and attending Burley schools. He excelled in debate and band, and was salutatorian of Burley High School when he graduated in 1942. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was sent to North Africa, and then to Italy, where he was assigned to Headquarters Command for the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations in Caserta, Italy, working as an assistant to Commanding General Matthew Ridgway. He was on this assignment when the Armistice was signed. He was discharged in 1945, and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After graduating from Utah State University in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology, he was given a teaching assistantship at Ohio State University while he worked on his master’s degree in speech correction and special ed. He received a Master’s of Education from Utah State University in 1970.
His first job took him to Pendleton, Ore., where he set up the state’s first special education program. From there, he joined the faculty at Roseburg High School in Oregon, where he was dean of boys and then vice principal. He became homesick for farm life, so he and the family moved back to Burley, where he taught at Burley Junior High School, then Minico High School, and finished his career as principal of Burley High School, from 1971 to 1987. During retirement, he was a member of the Cassia County Sheriff’s Posse.
He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving faithfully in many callings.
He was a master storyteller, loved people, always rooted for the underdog, and tried to do what he thought was right, no matter how unpopular. He was always cheerful despite adversity.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where a viewing for family and friends will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday prior to the funeral. Burial will be in the View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Missionary Fund or your favorite charity.
