Jerome Kent Gruelle
Jerome Kent Gruelle, 69, of Melbourne, Fla., known as Kent to family and friends, died peacefully with his wife, Barbara Walsh-Gruelle, by his side, ever present throughout his battle, losing his life to FTD, aka the Bruce Willis disease, and complications from cancer.
Kent graduated Hillsboro High School in the class of 1974, where he was on the golf team and attended The Ohio State University. He pursued a passion for cooking, starting at a little vegetarian restaurant on north campus in Columbus, Ohio called “Seva” and forged a path forward enjoying a lifelong culinary career becoming a top chef in many recognized restaurants.
He accepted a cross -country transfer with Hyatt to Westlake Village, Calif. after which, he joined Marriott working at the Mandalay Bay Beach Resort in Ventura, Calif. He continued his culinary journey working as a butcher, known for restaurant style cuts, customers requested meats butchered by him. Family need necessitated a move from California spending two and a half years in Mentor, Ohio, wherein he selflessly agreed along with his wife to care for his wife’s parents, Cliff and Barb Walsh. While there, he worked for Mentor Ohio School System keeping the athletic fields groomed and painted the lines on the sports fields, baseball, football, soccer, which he really enjoyed.
For the remainder of his life, he lived in Melbourne, Fla. working in the grocery industry until he retired in 2018. He then immersed himself creating abstract art, sculptures, chess sets and bamboo pieces becoming an accomplished artist displaying and selling pieces in the Upside Galley in downtown Melbourne. He was a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, spent time playing disc golf, listening to alternative music especially Punk, watching movies repeating movie lines as he bantered with friends and loved all animals with cats being his favorite. Spending time with Kent left those he hung with smiling and feeling good. He was a happy guy with a comedic nature and a genuine love of life.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Gruelle; brothers, Tim Gruelle, and identical twin, Kevin (Carol) Gruelle; his wife’s siblings, Mike (Betty) Walsh, Kenny (Beth) Walsh, Eileen (Lon) Allen, Moira (Perry) Clark, and Carol (Les) Kovacs; many nieces and nephews; and his cat, DeeDee Ramone Gruelle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred and Beryl Gruelle; sister-in-law, Alessandra Gruelle; in-laws, Cliff and Barb Walsh; and two nephews, Bradley and Micheal Allen.
Notes of condolence may be sent to knbgruelle@att.net.