In Memoriam: Bill Grubbe

A good friend of mine, and my wife's first (and only other) husband, died Sunday afternoon at his home in Muckersville, Iowa, with "our boys" (Joel, Jason, Karl, and Jason's son Alec) and Mary at his bedside. (Ours is an extended, and extending, family.)

Bill did a lot of distinguished things with his life, many of them involving a wide variety of roles in the broadcasting industry, which was yet another bond we had. Eastern Iowa folks watching TV in the early 1960s will remember him as KCRG-TV's "Sheriff Steve."

I remember him as a friend, and as we say, "a character" -- as could be said of many of his neighbors in the little village of Muckersville, Iowa, whose support and friendship he (and we) valued.

Here is his obit as it appeared in The Gazette, October 3, 2006, p. B5:.

CENTRAL CITY

William P. Grubbe, 77, of Central City, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, in his home, following a brief illness. Memorial graveside service: 10: 30 a. m. Thursday, Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Beverly Hovenkamp, with military honors. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion.

Survivors include his sons, Joel Grubbe of San Jose, Calif., Jason Grubbe of Iowa City and Karl Grubbe of Bisbee, Ariz.; and a sister, Dora Lee Larson of Denver, Colo.

Also surviving is a grandson, Alec of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Robin Anne; and a brother, Clinton. He was born the son of Clarence and Rosina Drenckpohl Grubbe on Aug. 24, 1929, in Galesburg, Ill. William earned a B. S. degree from Denver University. He had been married to Mary Vasey and Linda Stone. William proudly served his country in the Marine Corps and Naval Air Corps. William was a member of Central City American Legion Wapsie Post 421 and the NRA.

William was a news director at KRDO TV in Colorado Springs, Colo. He started, owned and operated KONI Radio in Spanish Fork, Utah. In 1961, he moved to Iowa and was known locally as Sheriff Steve, a children’s TV host on KCRG. Later he was a staff announcer for WMT Radio and Television. William owned Audio- Tech Recording Studio and Nostalgia Broadcasting and was a 31- year resident of Muckersville, Iowa.

Military honors by Central City American Legion Post 421. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 2740 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Please sign the online guest book for William at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

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