Otto Karl Gruetzner Jr.

Funeral services for Otto Karl Gruetzner Jr. 94, of Highland Haven, Texas are scheduled for 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Marble Falls with Rev. Richard Goodwill officiating. Burial will take place at 3:00 PM on Tuesday December 14, 2021, in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 TX-195 Killeen, Texas. Visitation will be held on Monday December 13, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Mr. Gruetzner passed away during the early evening hours of December 3, 2021, in his room in the home of his son Terry in Austin where he had been residing since mid-April 2021 and under hospice care. Otto Karl Gruetzner Jr. was born on September 4, 1927, in Giddings, Texas, the eldest child of Otto Karl Gruetzner Sr. and Andanilla Cynthia (Balke) Gruetzner. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin. Otto was united in marriage to Fay Elaine Kiesling of Houston, Texas on December 31, 1947, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Houston by Rev. Elmo Miertschin. She and Otto celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve of 2017. Otto was currently a member of Hope Lutheran Church of Marble Falls, the last of four Lutheran churches that he helped found: Grace Lutheran of Elgin, Hope Lutheran of Austin, Christ Our Savior Lutheran of Lago Vista, and finally, Hope Lutheran of Marble Falls. Otto graduated from Austin High School and was enrolled in his freshman year at the University of Texas when he was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1945. He was honorably discharged in 1947 before marrying Fay. Otto later served as an officer in the Texas State Guard, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in command of the 601st MP Battalion in Austin. His first career was as a member of his father’s Chevrolet dealership. Following the sale of the family car dealership, both Otto and Fay followed two of their sons into the field of law enforcement. Otto and Fay took jobs working as Deputy Constables for Travis County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office. Upon retiring as deputy constables, and following their move to Burnet County, Otto and Fay worked as Reserve Deputy Sheriffs for the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office until January of 2013. In addition to being a licensed pilot, Otto also served the community as a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 where he and Fay patrolled the lakes in the family boat and flew coastal patrols in the family airplane.

Otto was preceded in death by his parents Otto Sr. and Andanilla Gruetzner, his wife Fay, two brothers and their wives, August and Geraldine Gruetzner and Robert and Jeanette Gruetzner, and one grandson, Timothy Lee Gruetzner. Otto is survived by his sister, Anna Marie Teinert of Bryan, his brother Rev. James Gruetzner in Michigan, his sons and daughters-in-law, David & Jean Gruetzner of Granite Shoals, Richard & Cathleen Gruetzner of Burnet and Terry & Pamela Gruetzner of Austin; eight grandchildren, Kevin Gruetzner of Spokane, Washington, Jeffery Gruetzner of Austin, David Gruetzner of Austin, Brooke & Marcus Federman of Spicewood, Audrey & Ryan Teague of Robinson, Rachel & Marshall Caudle of Highland Haven; and seven great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are sons, David Gruetzner, Richard Gruetzner, and grandsons Jeffery Gruetzner, David Gruetzner, Marcus Federman, Ryan Teague, and Marshall Caudle.

Memorials may be made to Hope Lutheran Church of Marble Falls.