Obit: Gruba, Mary L.#2 (1928 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gruba, Lund, Mathison, Matthews, Natzke, Vidal, Weiland

----Source: The Plombon Funeral Home (Stanley, WI) 4/30/2018

Gruba, Mary L. (Matthews) (16 JAN 1928 - 27 APR 2018)

Mary L. Gruba, 90, formerly of Stanley, died Friday, April 27, 2018 at the Clark County Health Care Center.

She was born on January 16, 1928 in Pardeeville, WI the daughter of the late Thomas and Murial (Mathison) Matthews. She attended school in Medford and she completed nursing training in Clark County, Illinois and at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. She met returning World War II soldier Louis Gruba at a Duke Ellington dance in Eau Claire and they were married on June 12, 1954 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church-Stanley.

She worked as an RN for Doctor Mathwig at his clinic and later worked at Victory Memorial Hospital Emergency Room and Victory Memorial Nursing Home.

Mary was an avid gardener, keeper of houseplants, bird watcher, painter, cook, and occasional world traveler. In the mid 1980's Mary traveled with her neighbor Helen Szatalowicz to Europe and Russia before the “iron curtain” fell. Mary loved libraries, collected many books, and also
subscribed to a slew of periodicals and newspapers to keep up on politics and events. These prepared Mary for spirited discussions with her husband. Despite their competing views
(and competing election signs) Mary kept a sense of humor about it all. One day she took a brief cycle ride with former Republican Senator Dave Zien.

She is survived by her children, Alan (Susan) Gruba of Fall Creek, Ann (Gilbert) Lund of Thorp, Matt (Kim) Gruba of Stanley and Carol Gruba (Mike Vidal) of Madison, 10 grandchildren, her sister, Carol Matthews of Biloxi, MS and two brothers, Thomas (Joan) Matthews of Waunakee and Robert (DelAnn) Matthews of Eau Claire.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Louis (1997), her brother William and her sister Charlotte Weiland.

A Funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the Plombon Funeral Home-Stanley with Rev. Laurie Natzke officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-8 PM on Monday and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the funeral home.