Deborah “Debbie” (Millhouse) Grunow

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn (Millhouse) Grunow, age 69, of Cheboygan, Michigan passed away at home on August 17, 2025 after a courageous 19-year battle with a rare lung disease, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).  She was born February 27, 1956. In Cheboygan, Michigan to C. Richard and Janice M. (Socha) Millhouse.

Debbie graduated from Cheboygan High School in 1974 and continued her education at Ferris State College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree as a medical assistant.  

While Debbie was working as a medical assistant in Cheboygan, she met a charming courier driver and she and Daniel Thomas Grunow were subsequently married on September 24, 1994.

Debbie was a member of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, having served in many capacities, but she most loved being a Sunday School teacher.  She was a member of the Medical Assistants Association and an active supporter of the LAM Foundation.

Before her illness, Debbie and Dan enjoyed rustic camping together and spending weekends in Boyne City with his family.  Debbie’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She never lost her love of coloring books and shared that with them. She and her dad were active in Relay for Life, having participated for many years in the cancer survivor’s walk together.  After his passing, she enjoyed the time she spent with her mom every winter in N. Fort Myers, Florida, making many friends there.

Debbie is survived by her loving husband, Dan; son, Spencer Andrew (Cailyn Watson) Shore of Allegan, Michigan; her mother, Janice Millhouse of Cheboygan; sister, Lori (Richard) Spray of Cheboygan; grandchildren, Emerson Orion Shore and Nora Riley Smith; father-in-law, Robert Grunow, and sister-in-law, Susan Marie Mikolowski, both of Boyne City; uncle, Rick (Sharon Lyon) Socha; nephews, Dylan Spray, Nathan Mikolowski and Shane Grunow; nieces, Logan (Courtney) Spray and Shandi Morrow; along with several loving cousins and close friends.

Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Richard Millhouse; daughter, Brittany Noel Shore Smith; mother-in-law, Marilyn Grunow; brother-in-law, Robert Grunow, and great niece, Rikki Lee Spray.

A memorial service will take place at St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, 332 S. Western Avenue, Cheboygan on September 5, 2025. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the service following at 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, any memorial donations may be directed to the family for expenses and  forwarding to the LAM Foundation.

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