Background
Gruchow, Paul Dewayne was born on May 23, 1947 in Montevideo, Minnesota, United States. Son of Howard Vernon and Marie Louise (Halvorsen) Gruchow.
Gruchow, Paul Dewayne was born on May 23, 1947 in Montevideo, Minnesota, United States. Son of Howard Vernon and Marie Louise (Halvorsen) Gruchow.
Student, University Minnesota, 1965-1969.
A student of poet John Berryman, he is well known for his strong support of rural communities, as expressed in his first book, "" published by University of Minnesota Press. His essays in, document his ideas with stories of growing up in rural Chippewa County Minnesota. Gruchow was editor and co-owner of the highly respected Worthington Daily Globe in Worthington during the late 1970s and 1980s.
When the newspaper was sold, he moved to Northfield, Minnesota, where he was an instructor at Saint Olaf, Northfield, Minnesota and Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.
His essays appeared in Minnesota Monthly Magazine (published by Minnesota Public Radio), the Utne Reader, and book reviews in the Hungry Mind Review. In addition to Journal of a Prairie year, Gruchow"s books include Discovering the Universe of Home and
"the Necessity of Empty Places", Saint Martin"s Press, "Worlds Within Worlds", Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and "Images of Home" with photographer Jim Brandenburg, by the Brandon Foundation of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. A travel essay from "Empty Places" appeared in the Sunday New York Times.
He wrote occasionally for The Utne Reader, and the Hungry Mind Review.
Gruchow committed suicide on February 22, 2004, in Duluth, soon after completing the first draft of a book about depression. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. In 2007 a collection entitled The Grace of Grass and Water: Writing in Honor of Paul Gruchow was published by the Ice Cube Press.
, Gruchow"s seventh and final book was released in September 2012 by Levins Publishing in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In memory of his literary contributions, an annual Paul Gruchow Essay Contest is conducted by Writers Rising Up to Defend Place, Natural Habitat and Wetlands through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Vice chairman Minnesota Humanities Commission, 1988, chairman, since 1989. Advisory panelist Minnesota Arts Board, 1987-1988. Member Minnesota Newspaper Association (board directors 1985-1987).
Married Nancy Lee Andrews Harding, September 7, 1968. Children: Laura, Aaron.