Bud Grenda, 81, of LaPorte, Indiana, died at 3:33 a.m. on Monday, February 27, 2006 at LaPorte Hospital.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at St. John's Lutheran Church, LaPorte, with Rev. David Young & Rev. Ronald Brauer officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Cutler Funeral Home and on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery.
Bud was born July 14, 1924, in LaPorte to Richard G. and Irene (Zellmer) Grenda. On August 29, 1948, in Michigan City, Indiana, he married Shirley M. Santow who survives.
Survivors also include daughter Pamela (Steve) Burleson of Carmel, IN; son Bruce (Jeannie) Grenda of Barrington Hills, IL; grandchildren Stephanie White, Melissa Grenda, and Brent & Ashley Burleson; great-granddaughter Hannah Grace White; and brother Charles (Ann) Grenda of Anderson, IN.
His parents, a grandson, Blake Burleson and a sister, Phyllis Chalman preceded him in death.
Bud was the retired owner and president of LaPorte Bottled Gas Company. He was a graduate of Iowa University. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the Slicer Football Hall of Fame and the South Bend Country Club Men's Golf Association. He was a former board member of the LaPorte Chamber of Commerce, the Beechwood Men's Golf Association and the Indiana Bottled Gas Association.
Bud was also a WW II US Navy Air Corp Lieutenant. He served as a fighter pilot, flying off the carrier "The Wasp".