Eugene "Gene" Gruber

Eugene “Gene” Gruber, 92 year old resident of Genola, MN passed away Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at the St. Cloud VA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 AM on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, MN with Father David Maciej officiating. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Tuesday and from 10AM to 11AM on Wednesday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz. Caring for Gene and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN. Eugene “Gene” Gruber was born on November 4, 1931 to the late Teresa (Flicker) and Frank Gruber. He grew up in Genola and helped in his father’s wholesale business, shipping poultry, veal calves, potatoes and other foods to Duluth for the war effort. He graduated from Little Falls High School in 1949. He enlisted in the Navy in June, 1951 as a gunner’s mate until 1955. During his time in the Navy, the Korean Conflict was raging, and he traveled throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico including being stationed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. While home on leave, he met Millie, his wife. They married on October 25, 1955 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, Minnesota. The couple raised their 2 daughters and 2 sons in Genola, Minnesota. Against his father’s advice, Gene and Millie started their retail grocery store, Gruber’s Market Platz, then added a slaughter house which combined became very successful. They also started the Rich Prairie Shopper (now known as the Morrison County Record) and then opened the Genola Village Inn Restaurant. Gene was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was mayor of Genola for many years and purchased the land that was developed into the current Genola ballpark that is still actively used to this day. Gene was a proud member of the Pierz Lions Club, American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans. When he was 49, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which began to affect his ability to engage in hunting and fishing which he had grown to love and shared with his two young sons, Steve and Paul. He was honored as Father of the Year by the MS Society of MN in 1982. Gene enjoyed playing cards and drinking beer with his Mission Group. He took up oil painting and was always inventing different ways to improve tasks and how to accomplish them. Gene took great pride in the success of Gruber’s Market and in particular the meat section, perfecting 21 different kinds of sausage including developing a much loved and award-winning liver pate. Gene and Millie spent their later years traveling the continental USA mainly, but also Alaska in their motorhome and at times taking their grandchildren along. Gene spent the last nine years of his life at the St. Cloud VA. They took exceptional care of him and helped him to visit Millie until she passed in 2018. He continued with his political skills in advocating for the use of the sunroom/gathering room for the patients who resided there. The family expresses immense gratitude to the staff of the VA medical center, building 49-2 for their loving and compassionate care they provided him. Gene is survived by his children, Kathleen of Little Falls, MN, Susan (Gene) of Rice, MN, Steven (Susan) of Bemidji, MN, Paul (Denise) of Hillman, MN; 12 grandchildren, Anne, Theresa, Tammy, Danielle, Matthew, Courtney, Jake, Chase, Shelby, Mackenzie, Maggie, and Jackson; 14 great-grandchildren; his brother, Fred (Marge) Gruber and sister, Lila (Norm) Thielen. Gene is preceded in death by his wife, Millie; sisters, Lucille, Lavina, Delirose, and Ione; and parents, Teresa and Frank Gruber.

Tributes

Eugene "Gene" Gruber

November 4, 1931 - November 8, 2023