John Gruber, Sr.

Mass of Christian Burial for John E. Gruber Sr., 89, Eudora, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora. Burial will be in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Eudora. Mr. Gruber died Sunday, December 18, 2011, in the home he built. Mr.

Gruber was born March 17, 1922 in Overbrook, the son of William J. and Martha Bergerhaus Gruber.

Mr. Gruber grew up in Northeast Kansas. In 1940 he graduated from Williamsburg High School where he excelled in athletics and academics. He lettered in baseball, football, and basketball. During the Second World War, as part of this country’s greatest generation, Mr. Gruber served in Europe as a machinist and blacksmith in the U.S. Army Air Force. On the G.I. Bill he went to Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science to become a High School teacher. Upon graduation he taught in Paxico and Wellsville. He went on to work at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in DeSoto and at the University of Kansas. He retired from The University of Kansas’ Facilities Operations in 1987.

A man of many interests including agriculture and horticulture, travel, and carpentry, Mr. Gruber was an avid gardener, traveled with his family throughout most of the fifty states and built his own home. He leaves a wife of 20 years, Rita, a daughter Margaret, two sons John Jr. and Mark, daughter-in-law Mary Ann as well as grandchildren Tammy, Mark Jr., Heather, Matthew, and Ryan. He is survived by his sister Mary. His brother Paul preceded him in death.

A rosary will be said at 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora followed by a visitation until 7 p.m. 

The family requests all donations be sent to Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora, Kansas and may be sent in care of the mortuary.