Ceylon Howard Gruenstern was born on May 23, 1922 in the Town of Dupont, Waupaca County. He lived on a farm with his parents, two sisters, and a brother. Cy graduated from Marion High School in 1941. After graduation, he moved to Milwaukee where he worked as a machinist. In 1942 he joined the Army Air Corps and served as a First Lieutenant. He also became a member of the English Airforce and while stationed in England he took every training class available. Cy and his crew completed 35 successful bombing missions over Germany, and he was awarded the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters. In 1945 he was discharged from the service. He returned to Milwaukee and was employed as a sheet metal worker and machinist. During his lifetime he built numerous church steeples in the Milwaukee area. In 1972 Cy and his family returned to the Town of Dupont and he built Kastle Kampground in Marion which he ran for many years.
Cy was labeled as a master carver. His amazing talent for carving has been on display at the International Carving Show in Canada where he took 2nd place. Other beautiful creations can be seen at the Marion Area Historical Society museum, Premier Community Bank in Iola, and St. John Lutheran Church in Marion. Cy had a kind and generous spirit and donated many of his masterpieces to different charities. He will be remembered for his extraordinary carving talent, his amazing kindness, and his willingness to always help others.
In 2015 Cy was proud to be honored with the Lance P. Sijan Award by the US Air Force for his military service. In June of 2018, at the age of 96, he was chosen to fly in a 1940 Stearman biplane in Waupaca, sponsored by Ageless Aviation Dreams. Cy had the time of his life!
Cy and his wife Joyce, moved from their home in Marion to Aster Assisted Living, Clintonville, in 2016. In November of 2018 he moved to the Veterans Home at King. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; a brother; and three wives, Marcella, Christine, and Joyce.
A Christian Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 27th at 11:00 at Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville. Chaplain Wayne Schwanke will officiate and burial will be at Roseland Cemetery, Town of Dupont. Visitation will be on Monday from 9:00 AM until time of service at the funeral home. Military Honors will be provided at the cemetery by members of the Marion American Legion Post #198. Please go to www.beil-didier.com to sign the online guestbook or to send a card to the family.
Memorial donations in memory of Cy should be made to the Marion Area Historical Society, St. John Lutheran Church in Marion, or the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
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