Mrs. GEORGE S. (Mary Hofer) GRUVER 1869-1956

HOFER, GRUVER, LUBKE, SULLIVAN, PETERS, MILLER, SCHUTTE

Posted By: M. Durr - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 3/28/2010 at 20:09:49

Rites Held For Mary Gruver

Funeral services were conducted at the Schutte Funeral chapel on Tuesday for Mrs. Mary Gruver, 86, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Lubke on Saturday. The Rev. C. E. Witt, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, was in charge of the last rites. Burial was in Elgin cemetery.

Mary Gruver, daughter of Jacob and Rosina Hofer, was born on August 9, 1869 at Elgin, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Lubke in Postville Saturday, January 28, 1956 at the age of 86 years, five months and 19 days.

She was united in marriage to George S. Gruver on April 2, 1888 in Elgin. To this union four children were born: Max William, who preceded her in death on January 31, 1919 at Bay City, Wisconsin, Susie, Mrs. Albert Lubke, of Postville, Reuben of Cedar Rapids, and Kathryn, Mrs. Orval Sullivan, of Elkader. Besides her three living children she leaves to mourn her death five grandchildren: Max Gruver and Eileen Gruver Campbell of Tacoma, Washington, Opal Gruver Moyer and William Gruver of Seattle, Washington, and Marlyn Sullivan of Elkader, 12 great grandchildren and one great granddaughter, three sisters, Mrs. Lena Peters and Mrs. Louise Miller of Clermont, and Mrs. Louis Schutte of Postville, one sister-in-law, Mrs. Frieda Gruver of West Union, and several nieces and nephews.

Following her marriage the family lived in West Union for a number of years, and a short time in the vicinity of Clermont. In September 1904 they purchased a farm near Brainard where they resided until after the death of the husband on March 24, 1920. In 1921 Mrs. Gruver moved to Clermont where she made her home until 1946, when failing health made it necessary for her to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Postville.

One of the greatest joys of her life came in 1949, when, through fate, after 27 years of seemingly endless searching, she was reunited with the four children of her deceased son, Max. It was her greatest blessing to realize that these grandchildren in Washington were as happy to have found their grandmother as she was to have found them. Contentment in her last years was the reward for this reunion.

Mrs. Gruver was confined to her bed the last month of her life. She had been in failing health for several years, but was always cheerful and appreciative of all that was done for her.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, hand dated 1956.