Thomas James Grunwaldt

Thomas James Grunwaldt, born June 17, 1950, in Omaha Nebraska, passed from this life into the next on Thursday, December 19, 2019, at the age of 69. Tom lived with his Air Force parents in Libya when he was seven years old. The family moved to Citrus Heights and his father was stationed at McClellan AFB. Tom went to San Juan USD schools and graduated from San Juan High School in 1968. He got his AA from American River College before entering the Sheriff's Academy. He loved being a deputy sheriff, and made a number of notable arrests during his career, including two suspects who were plotting to set bombs around the Citrus Heights area in order to rob the Bank of America. These two people were subsequently prosecuted and Tom was awarded honors for his quick thinking and bravery. Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 38 years of age, and always felt he could fight against it. The disease cut his career short, and he was no longer able to do the job he loved. He refused to give in to the Parkinson's and used every means to remain mobile. During our last four years of being able to live together, Tom was known all over Folsom, riding around on his motorized scooter. He had a flock of chickens that followed him at the park, since he always fed them. He spent days at the Senior Center, playing Wii bowling and golf. He rode up and down Sutter Street and felt it was his territory to patrol. Tom went into care seven years ago, after struggling for so long. I will miss him, although I feel I have been grieving his loss since he went into care. He could make me laugh, and I always loved the sound of his voice. I have memories of driving down Wachtel Lane in Citrus Heights, windows down, listening to Patsy Cline and eating cherries. We had a pit-spitting contest out the windows! I remember our home in North Highlands, and how he would bring ferns home to plant in the yard, until there was no more room for another fern. We spent two vacations on California's northern coast because he loved to be by the sea. Tom could be seen with his walker, and later on his scooter, wielding a metal detector, searching for treasures! He would get up early to hunt on sites where he thought he might find something interesting, and he saved enough bits of gold to make me a ring that I will always wear. I will remember the good times, and I choose to forget all the troubling times because those remembrances don't enrich my life. And Tom Grunwaldt wanted to enrich my life. He encouraged me to go with our church to Kenya to help build a church there. He encouraged my painting, my quilting, my cooking, and even my online game-playing. He wanted me to enjoy all the things that I loved. My belief allows me to picture him in heaven, walking and running, and talking with all those who have gone before us. I believe that I will see him again some day when I am allowed to pass over. Tom Grunwaldt is survived by his wife Marcia Faith Grunwaldt, his two daughters, Dawn Williams and her husband Mike, and granddaughter Brittni Conley, grandsons Kyle, Nick and Nathan Williams; daughter Amy Hurn and her husband Vince Hurn, and granddaughter Alyssa. One grandson, Mark Williams, is deceased. And finally, a very close friend has this to say: I loved him. He had a spirit that I have not seen many times. He was the luckiest unlucky man I ever knew. I hope to see him again one day, and laugh about the good times, and dismiss the not-so-good times. He made me appreciate that Life is never measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. I only hope I can confront my own mortality with the courage and grace he demonstrated. All the Best, Wendell