GRUBER, Mary F. (Collins) 1920-2006

MCLAUGHLIN, COLLINS, GRUBER, WUEBKER, KURTH, GIBSON, BAHR, SCHOLTES

Posted By: D Cunningham (email)
Date: 1/28/2020 at 16:07:32

Mary Frances Gruber, age 85, of Waukon, died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon after five months of illness. Funeral services were held Friday, May 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lycurgus, with the Rev. Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating and the Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, con-celebrating. Interment followed at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, near Waukon. Hanson's Funeral Home, Waukon, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary is survived by six children, Colleen Wuebker of West Bend, Iowa, Gerald Gruber of Englewood, Fla., Judith Kurth of Reedsburg, Wis., Richard Gruber of Janesville, Wis., Julie Gibson of Mason City, and Linda Bahr of Caledonia, Minn. Additional survivors include 24 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harris in 1982; two sons, Robert, in 1995, and Kenneth, in 1996; a brother Martin; and a sister, Margaret Scholtes.

Mary was born July 19, 1920, near Waukon, the daughter of William Collins and Cecelia McLaughlin. She was raised on the McLaughlin farm near Dorchester. After finishing high school at 16, she attended Waukon Junior College and taught for two years in county rural schools.

July 8, 1940, she married Harris Gruber at St. Patrick's Church in Waukon and moved to a farm on "Gruber Ridge" near Lansing, where they began their family. Around 1947 they moved to a farm south of Waukon and about 1950, to Waukon. While their eight children were at home, the teacher Mary saw and helped to develop their individual interests and talents, was very involve in their educations, and supported their activities. As they grew older, Mary helped Harris with the Gruber Electical business and became more involved in church and community. In her late years she left Waukon for a short time to live in La Crosse, Wis. In 2005, she returned to the Waukon Living Center and Northgate Care Center where she resided until her death.

Mary loved her home, family, and friends. She was known for her hospitality, family gatherings, baking, sewing, crafts, love of music, dancing, reading, history, politics, and education.

Mary was a life-long member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. She taught CCD and was a Communion minister to Northgate residents for many years. She served in the parish women's units and on the Liturgy Committee. She was a member of St. Jude Study Club, ACCW, and M.O.M.s group.

Mary served as a 4-H leader, hospital volunteer, and on many committees and boards, including Upper Iowa River Preservation, Sesquicentennial celebration, Allamakee County Homemakers, American Legion Auxiliary, Retired Teachers, and Farm Bureau Women.

Memorials may be given in Mary Gruber's name to the American Heart Association and St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund.

At the funeral, Gerald Gruber gave a tribute to Mary Gruber and her legacy. The rest of Mary's family and their spouses prepared the liturgy and served in various ministries at the Mass, singing, reading, bringing up gifts, and giving Communion, while the grandchildren served as pallbearers or honorary pallbearers.

Source: Allamakee Journal-Wednesday, May 24, 2006

from my parents obituary collection