Elmer Stanley Grunst III

November 15-1950 – December 11, 2018

Bailey, Colorado

Elmer Stanley Grunst, a longtime resident of Bailey, CO passed away at his home on December 11, 2018.

Elmer was very private when it came to letting it be known that he was battling cancer and the pain he was going through. Although his prognosis was dire, he battled on, lived his life and survived several years beyond the expert’s expectations. He did not want his obituary to suggest that he lost a long battle with cancer. He always hated losing.

He was born on November 15, 1950 in Berwyn, Illinois to Elmer S. and Bernadette I. Grunst. He attended Lisle Community High School and graduated in 1968 as Valedictorian of his class. At the age of sixteen, he started his own business called Travelers Limousine Service, maintaining and repairing limousines. During his junior and senior years, he lettered in wrestling and football. From 1969 to 1970 he attended The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill, taking classes related to Computer Science.

In 1970, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After serving in the Army, he went back to Illinois and started working for Airway Electronics and it was there he learned and became passionate about electronics. After 3 years, he was offered a job with Pacific Stereo, quickly advancing to Service Manager and then promoted to National Service Manager transferring to California. Wanting a change, he moved to Colorado and was hired by Soundtrack for 4 years as National Service Manager. If you ask any of his friends, they will say that Elmer loved his music and the louder, the better. Rock and Roll and Elvis were his favorites. After leaving Soundtrack, he started his own business installing and designing auto sound systems.

Elmer then decided to move to Harris Park in Bailey, Colorado where after several years, he met and married Diane. Together they were blessed to have a son, Ross Grunst. Elmer nicked named Ross, at birth, his Monkey Boy and unfortunately for Ross that name stuck. Ross and Elmer shared hiking, rock climbing, boating, fishing, camping, and the love of music together.

After marrying Diane, he worked for Mortensen Construction, Colorado Water Well and Zimkor.

Elmer traveled extensively. He stayed at the finest camp sites and could tell you almost every campsite there was. He loved the outdoors and had a great eye for outdoors photography. He loved telling jokes and he would even make his own jokes up and truly thought they were funny!

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer G. Grunst and Bernadette I. Grunst.

Elmer is survived by his wife, Diane Grunst; his son, Ross Grunst; his sister, Anita Markam of Henderson, Minnesota; two brothers, Steven Grunst of Lisle, Ill and Gary August Grunst of Estes Park, CO.

Elmer Grunst had a zest for life. Everyone that meet and knew Elmer was taken in by his laughter and caring nature. He loved his wife and son and he will be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Intermountain Humane Society, https://www.imhs.org/ or Mountain Resource Center, https://www.mrcco.org/.