Karl William Grube, Ph.D., passed away on August 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Florida from an unexpected stroke. Although a recent resident of Sebastian, Florida, he had been a life long resident of Michigan, living in Saginaw and the Dexter-Pinckney communities. Karl was born on March 9, 1941 in Saginaw, Michigan. He was predeceased by his parents James Robert Grube and Kathryn Mary Stork Grube, both from Saginaw. He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Susan Vaughn Grube, two children, Kenneth James Grube and Kathryn Josephine Grube, his sister Julie Anne Goldman, his brother James Robert Grube, and grandchildren Kaitlyn Marie Grube and Kyle Mitchell Grube.
As a young man, Karl worked in the family drug store, Grube Drugs in Saginaw. He graduated from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Michigan. He loved playing football and baseball. After high school, he was invited to play minor league baseball for the Toledo Mud Hens. However, he found a passion for teaching, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Central Michigan University. He went on to Central Michigan University where he earned his Masters in Administration. He then attended the University of Michigan where he received his Ph.D. in Education. He taught school for several years at the University of Michigan, with a joint appointment in the Schools of Education, Urban Regional Planning, and Architecture.
Karl was a lifelong educator who had a thirst for learning and teaching new ideas to both children and adults. He particularly loved teaching using educational board games. He developed Games-By-Grube, a teaching method using active participation in learning for young children. As an architectural enthusiast in the 1970’s, he was ahead of his time in the promotion of sustainable (Green) design and construction techniques. He was instrumental in securing a National Design Award for a specific Solar Passive Home. He was also instrumental in promoting the benefits of radiant heat, with both residential and commercial applications. He applied the concepts of radiant heat to the RV industry, and even had a motor home dealership marketing a state-of-the-art mini RV utilizing an aerodynamic fiberglass chassis on a small pickup truck based frame, which was profiled on the cover of Popular Mechanics magazine. He eventually became a licensed realtor, with a specific interest in land development.
He had a passion for Airstream trailers and the recreational vehicle lifestyle. In 2004, he and his wife became members of T.C.P.C., the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau Campground where they routinely spent time enjoying the fellowship of the members and the beauty of this special place. As a 50-year member of Freemasonry, Karl was an active member of in the Masonic Ann Arbor-Fraternity Lodge No. 262. He excelled to the distinguished rank of 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was instrumental in establishing the online Bonisteel Masonic Library (www.bonisteelml.org). He was also very active in the Fraternal Order of the Elks as a forty (40) year lifetime member. His beloved place to relax and spend time with family and friends was at his summer retreat, named the Sunrise Resort in Batchawana Bay, Ontario, Canada on Lake Superior. Anyone that knew Karl acknowledged he had a passion for the Great North Country and that Batchawana Bay had a special place in his heart. Karl will be missed dearly by his family and friends, and will be welcomed into his next chapter of eternal life. A Memorial Service to celebrate Karl William Grube’s life will be held on August 31, 2017 at 6pm at the Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 West Stadium Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memoriam for Karl to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. For credit or debit cards, please call 1-877-367-2241. Checks or money orders can be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. If you would like a donation notification card sent to his family, please indicate this at the time of donation and have the card sent to Susan Grube, 1436 Seahouse St., Sebastian, FL, 32958. For more information and online guestbook, please visit the Seawinds Funeral Home website, seawindsfh.com.
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