Melinda Gruenbaum

Melinda (nee Breihan) was born on June 5, 1910 in Rockford IL. She was the daughter of Anna and Theobald Breihan, a Lutheran school principle and organist, and had 3 brothers and a sister. She also lived in Milwaukee WI., St. Joseph, MI., and Chicago, IL. As a child she learned to play the piano and violin. After High School Melinda worked as a licensed beautician. It was in Chicago that she met and married Carlton Gruenbaum while he was in the Army during WW II. After returning home Carlton worked as a salesman for the White Castle until his retirement. Their son Gerald was born on Oct. 27, 1944.

After Carlton retired they moved to Plantation, FL and transferred their church membership to Our Savior Lutheran Church. Carlton passed away in 1983 at the age of 70.

Melinda is survived by one brother, Robert Breihan, a retired teacher, organist and bank president; her son Gerald; 3 grandchildren, Treasa (Michael) Riemenschneider, Gail (Daniel) Krieg and Grant (Melissa) Gruenbaum; and 4 great grandchildren, Asrai, Heidi and Gabriel Gruenbaum, and Elizabeta Riemenschneider. Gerald is a retired Motorola engineer and currently serves as Minister of Music at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Ft. Lauderdale. Gerald and his wife Marilyn are members of Our Savior, where Gerald previously served in the music ministry and Marilyn had been a teacher.

Melinda was preceded in death by her parents; 2 brothers, Armin, a Lutheran Pastor, and Ted, a Lutheran school teacher and organist; and her sister Lois Green.

During the last few years of her life, Melinda lived at Absolute Care Assisted Living Facility in Sunrise, FL. and was much loved by the staff there.