Nancy is the youngest child of Wenzel Edward Gruner and his second wife, Mary Louise Shannon. She is the granddaughter of Ben Gruner and great granddaughter of Wenzel Gruner. Her birthday is January 21.

She was born in the middle of WW2, at the very beginning of the era that became known as the “Baby Boomers.” Her high school years spanned the late fifties, barely ahead of the youth revolution that peaked in the 1970s. Her early years were spent in Memphis, Tennessee.

Nancy was filled with the sense of adventure that pervaded the youth of that era. She tried everything from riding in rodeos to becoming a police officer, at one time even operating a kennel. In early years she was afforded the opportunity to work with a well-known horse trainer in California, work she dearly loved, but that hope was dashed by her parents on grounds she was far too young. At some point she learned computer skills and worked for a time as a secretary-bookkeeper.

Her adventurous life was suddenly cut short one day in 1979 when a city of Memphis garbage truck slammed into the rear of her stopped car and caused permanent damage to her neck, shoulder, and spine. She received a modest settlement, but has never been able to go back to full time employment.

Nancy is an outgoing family oriented person. When the “Gruner Heritage” was published, she was fascinated to read about cousins she had never known. With the advent of the Internet and e-mail, she has reached out to them. With her usual determination, she taught herself the hypertext language needed and began creating web pages.

About a year and a half ago, she decided to set up a Gruner web site with the help of other family members. It has become an outstanding site, a prizewinner not only for the artistic work, but also for the amount of family history, biography and music she has woven into the site. It has been difficult for her, as she cannot stay at the computer for long periods of time because of the pain from the injuries she received in that accident and the arthritis that followed. Still, the project has become her mission in life and she will never willingly stop.

Nancy has five children: Nancy Lynne, Deborah Sue, Donna Louise, David Brian, and William E. She also has nine grandchildren, two of whom are now in military service. She lives in Texas, but expects to move to upper New York State in the late spring to be nearer to daughter Nancy Lynne and for health reasons. Nancy, the family loves you and appreciates the work you have done to link us together.

Happy Birthday, Dear Cousin.
[Written by Marian Zang]

Dear Cousin Marian and this wonderful family I am blessed to be a part of, Please accept my most sincere "thank you's" for helping us make this site such a great one. Without you, we would not have the Gruner Heritage Photo Site. Thank you for the kind words. I am humbly honored.
With family Love
Nancy.......your family webmaster