GERALD EDWARD GRUBER

Gerald Gruber

Gerald E. Gruber, 83, of Farmington died at 2:02 p.m. May 3, 2014, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

He was born Dec. 25, 1930, in Astoria, a son of Jesse and Bessie May Bucher Gruber. He married Barbara Shawgo on April 13, 1952, in Norfolk, Va. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Roger (and Cynthia) Gruber of Lewistown and Larry Gruber of South Pekin; two daughters, Amy Middleton of Louisville, Ky., and Susan Spackman of St. Charles, Ill.; one brother, Stanley Gruber of Bartonville; nine grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two infant sons, Timothy and Thomas Gruber; three sisters, Ollidean Huber, Iona Towery and Mary Hamm; and three brothers, Max, Bobby and Donnie Gruber.

He was a Chief Petty Officer for the United States Navy for 20 years, retiring in February of 1968. He then worked as manager for Glidden Paint in Peoria for 20 years.

He was a member of Vermont Masonic Lodge #116 AF and AM of Vermont, Moose Lodge #1571 of Farmington, Farmington American Legion Post and Astoria Church of the Brethren. He attended United Methodist Church of Farmington.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church of Farmington with Reverend Jessica Baldyga officiating. Burial will be in Astoria Cemetery with military rites provided by Astoria American Legion Post #25. Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Farmington Rescue 1100 or United Methodist Church of Farmington.

Condolences may be sent to www.shawgomemorialhome.org.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 5/7/2014