Bernard Gruenke

Bernard Otto Gruenke (February 17, 1913 – March 31, 2012) was an American stained glass artist who produced one of the first faceted (Dalle de Verre) glass windows in the United States in 1949. He was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Early life At sixteen, Gruenke was encouraged in the pursuit of art by Marie Kohler, a member of the bath fixtures company. She provided him with a scholarship to the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C. He left for Corcoran in 1934, working as a sign painter by day and studying portrait painting at night. He also studied under Caesar Riccardi, a former student of the well-respected artist Robert Henri.

White House Visitor Center in Washington, DC Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho New Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois John H. Bass Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston, Massachusetts Union Station in St. Louis, Missouri Cathedral of St. Helena in Helena, Montana Plaza Hotel in New York City Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tennessee Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Hubertus, Wisconsin Basilica of St. Josaphat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Federal Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Honors Gruenke was recognized by the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA), being named a Fellow of the organization in 1972.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Award (2) League of Historic American Theatres Award Public Buildings Heritage Award Arizona Governor's Award for Historic Preservation Utah State Historical Society Award Historic Savannah Foundation's Trustees Award for Excellence Maui Historical Society Annual Preservation Award Milwaukee County Historical Society Preservation Award Wisconsin Society of Architects Contractors Award Architecture Minnesota Historic Preservation Award State of New Mexico Historic Preservation Award American Institute of Architects Minnesota Honor Award American Institute of Architects Wisconsin Honor Award