John Gruber Jr

John Gruber Jr., age 81, of Faribault, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014, at his home surrounded by his family following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 30, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault. Interment will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Shieldsville, MN.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and on Friday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

John Gruber Jr. was born on October 19, 1932, in Shieldsville Township, Rice County, MN to John Lyman and Mary Agnes (Crawford) Gruber. He graduated from Faribault High School and worked with his family in the operation of Gruber Trucking. He was united in marriage to Rose-Mary Beer on July 10, 1965 at Nativity Church in St. Paul. John had a passion for farming. He farmed on a part-time basis from 1949 - 2005, along with working at Precision Plating in Minneapolis from 1965 - 1995. He enjoyed old time and polka music, and often loved to dance to each. Family was of great importance to John, he cherished the time with his grandchildren, and socializing at many family gatherings.

He is survived by his wife, Rose-Mary Gruber of Faribault; children, Nancy Gruber of Rochester, Anita (Eric) Thompson of Madison, WI, Christine Gruber of St. Paul, and John C. Gruber of Faribault; grandchildren, James and Lauren Thompson; sisters, Alice Langer and Grace Silkey, both of Northfield, MN, and Irene (George) Green of Fridley, MN; brother-in-law, Thomas (Rita Doucet) Beer of Minneapolis; 57 nieces and nephews; and many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Louis Gruber, Anna Huss, Marie McDonald, and George Gruber; two nephews, David Silkey and Peter McDonald; and four babies lost to premature birth.