Kathrine Gruber

Kathrine I. “Kitty” Gruber, of Melrose, passed away after a wonderful life of 93 years on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the CentraCare Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11a.m. Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church in Melrose.

Kathrine Isabelle Van Beck was born January 23, 1929 near Greenwald, Minnesota to Albert and Mary (Kolb) Van Beck. Kathrine attended school in Greenwald and graduated from Melrose High School. She would help her brothers do chores on the farm after school.  On June 26, 1950, Kathrine was united in marriage to Reinold J. Gruber at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The couple lived near Spring Hill where they farmed until 1960. They owned and operated Reinie’s Bar and Grocery for eight years. They then resided at Birch Lake, Millwood Township, Stearns County until moving to Melrose in 1986. Kathrine worked as a nurse at the Melrose Hospital and was a Shaklee Distributor for many years. She felt strongly about saving the environment and staying healthy. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and dance. She sang on the choir and was a soloist at church. She also joined many choral groups around town. Kathrine always gave to others, volunteered at the local hospital in her later years and loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all her heart.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Daughters of Isabella, and Elrosa Senior Citizens.

Survivors include her children, Thomas Gruber of Freeport, Gail (Duane) Olmscheid of Melrose, Sr. Mary Katherine Gruber of Footville, Wisconsin, Richard (Irene) Gruber of Melrose, Margaret (Barton) Knutson of Belgrade, Peter (Diane) Gruber of Melrose, Albert (Mona) Gruber of Sartell, Amy (Larry) Lamusga of Grey Eagle, Wanda (Michael) of Freeport, Reinold R. (Brenda) Gruber of Clear Lake, and Chad (Kelly) Gruber of Bartlett, Illinois; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Kathrine was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mary Van Beck, husband, Reinold J. Gruber; infant children, Mary Gruber and Baby Boy Gruber; brothers, Adam, Edwin, and Reuben Van Beck; and sisters, Monica Ehlert, Ermalinda Walz, and Beata Brang.