Vernon Curtis Grunewald, age 83, of Hondo went to be with his Lord Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. Born June 20, 1927, in Yancey, he was the son of Henry William and Mary Lou (Hardt) Grunewald. He is preceded in death by his parents; son, William Sidney Mercer; granddaugher, Angelyn Mercer; son-in-law, Sam Menk; brothers, James Wilbur Grunewald and George Henry Grunewald and wife Lydia; sister, Ethel Lee Reid and her husband, Phil Reid; sister-in-law, Dora Ruth Grunewald; and brothers-in-law, Bill Kring and Truit Wilson. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Edna Lee (Wilson) Grunewald; daughter, Penny Menk of Hondo; daughter-in-law, Linda Mercer of Seguin; grandsons, Michael Menk and wife Nikki of McQueeney, David Menk and wife Kathy of Schertz, Doug Mercer and wife Nancy of Seguin and David Mercer of Hondo; 10 great-grandchildren and spouses; six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Roy Howard Grunewald of Floresville; sisters-in-law, Pat Grunewald of Yancey, LaVerne Kring of Fort Stockton and Dottie Wilson of Mississippi; and many nieces and nephews. Vernon and Edna Lee Wilson were married Aug. 4, 1950, and moved to Hondo. He served in the U.S. Navy in WWII and Korea and later joined the Army Reserves. He was very active in his church and the community. He was a Little League umpire and worked with the Boy Scouts. He was a member of Hermann Sons, Hondo Masonic Lodge, and Order of the Eastern Star. He and Edna Lee were active members of Yancey Methodist Church and helped start the annual Yancey Homecoming reunion at the church's 100-year anniversary in 1975. He was a conservation technician with the U. S. Department of Agriculture until retirement. Upon retiring from the SCS, he helped start the Yancey Water District where he held the position of general manager for many years. He loved ranching and working with his cattle. He left many memories and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Guinn-Horger Chapel. Funeral service will be Saturday, Aug. 7, 2 p.m. at Yancey United Methodist Church. Pallbearers are Michael Menk, David Menk, Doug Mercer, Cade Mercer, David Kring and Billy Kring. Interment will be at Yancey Cemetery. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Angie Mercer Scholarship Fund, SFASU Alumni Assn., Alumni Bldg. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches TX 75962-6096, or to the Yancey Methodist Church, Yancey TX 78886.