Verna Girtz Gruber

Verna Girtz Gruber, 92 year old resident of Pierz, MN passed away February 13, 2012 at Harmony House in Pierz, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church Buckman, MN with Father Gerald Dalseth officiating and Father Bernard Kahlhamer as concelebrant. Burial will take place in St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in Pierz, MN. Friends may call from 4-8 P.M. on Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN and from 9:30-10:30 A.M. on Saturday at the Church. Christian Mother’s along with St. Michael’s Society will say the rosary at 4:30 P.M, Rich Prairie Auxiliary prayers at 5:30 P.M, parish prayers at 6:30 P.M., and Knights of Columbus at 7:30 P.M. on Friday at the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN. Verna was born, August 4, 1919 in Pierz Township the first of nineteen children to the late Jacob and Rose (Medek) Girtz. She attended country school at District 98. Verna was united in marriage to Arthur Gruber on August 27, 1940 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz. Verna and Arthur lived in Pierz, MN until 1954. They purchased a farm northwest of Buckman and actively farmed until 1978. After retiring from farming in 1978 they moved to Little Falls Township and resided in the Foothills area. After Arthur’s death in 2003 Verna continued to live in her foothills home until relocating to Country Manor in Sartell and lastly has resided at the Harmony House in Pierz, MN until her death. Verna was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierz, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Buckman, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Little Falls. She was an active member of St. Michael’s Christian Mother’s Society. Verna enjoyed crocheting, embroidery work, and tending to her beautiful rose gardens. She also liked to play cards with family and friends and was a wonderful cook and baker. Most of all she was proud to be a wife and mother and encouraged her children to seek higher education. She was extremely proud of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was greatly loved and will be dearly missed by her loving family. Verna is survived by children, Robert Gruber of St. Cloud, Janelle (Paul) Hartmann of Arvada, CO, Richard (Karen L.) Gruber of Sauk Rapids, Charles (Karen M.) Gruber of Pierz, David Gruber of Winterpark, CO, Thomas (Nancy) Gruber of Royalton, Jeffrey (Deb) Gruber of Fort Dodge, IA, Geri Gooselaw-Gruber (daughter-in-law) of Buffalo, MN, Rose (Charles) Seymour of Chisago City, Carol (Clyde) Athman of St. Cloud, Paula (Peter) Colbert of Lebanon, OH, and Carmen (Allen) Watland of Grand Rapids, MN; siblings, Mildred Terhaar of Pierz, Ervin (Rosemary) Girtz of Royalton, Delrose Keyes of Mountain Home, AR, Mary Austin of Pierz, Doreen Kapsner of Little Falls, Beatrice Adams of Senica, SC, Alice Kahlhamer of Pierz, Virgil (LyAnn) Girtz of Brooklyn Park, Daniel (Jan) Girtz of Pierz, Gilbert (Joyce) Girtz of Grand Rapids, MI, and Sharlet (Larry) Selinger of LaCrosse, WI; 37 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Verna is preceded in death by husband, Arthur; son, Douglas; 2 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; siblings, Margaret Loidolt, Genevieve Franklin, Leo Girtz, Hildegard Merkling-Dudink, Mary Jane Merkling, Josephine Kaski, and James Girtz. In Lieu of Flowers Memorials are preferred to: Country Manor of Sartell, Harmony House of Pierz, or Alzheimers Foundation.

Tributes

Verna Girtz Gruber

August 4, 1919 - February 13, 2012