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Thomas Gruber • 1930 - 2002
Thomas Gruber, 72, Foxholm, ND, died Friday, December 20,
2002, near Foxholm.
Thomas was born May 6, 1930, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of
Mary Ann Baumgartner. He was raised in Foxholm by his adopted
parents, John and Mae (Hammer) Gruber. He attended grade school
in Foxholm and later St. Leo's High School in Minot, where he
graduated in 1948.
He entered the United States Navy on January 12, 1951 and served
as an electrician on a battleship stationed in Korea. While in
the service he earned the National Defense Service Medal, the
Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the China
Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and Korean Service
Medal with two stars. He was honorably discharge on December
1, 1954. He returned to Minot and attended Minot State Teachers
College, Pre-Engineering Curriculum in 1958. Thomas worked for
Peter Kiewit Construction in 1959, surveying missile sites during
the construction of the Minot Air Force Base. He later worked
for Northern Improvement and then Common Wealth Electric. From
1966 until his retirement in 1996 he worked for Boeing in Washington
State. He was once married to Edna Cutler, they were married
in September of 1966.
He was once married to Edna "Dell" Cutler. Edna has
one daughter Donneita Offield and two sons that have passed away,
John and Marty.
Thomas attended St. Mary's Catholic Church, Foxholm, and was
also honorary mayor of Foxholm. He was a member of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Moose Lodge #257 in
Cheyenne, WY, the North American Fishing Club and the National
Rifle Association. Thomas enjoyed woodworking, fishing and cooking.
Survivors: sister Donna Baumgartner and her fiancé,
Roger Ericson, New Ulm, MN; nephew, Jamei (Andrea) Masterson,
Grass Lake, MI; nieces, Robin (Earl) Ebensteiner, Cannon Falls,
MN, Toni Baumgartner and special friend, David Holzmer, Cottage
Grove, MN, and Ami (Randy) Garrett, Tega Cay, S.C.; great-nephews,
Tyler Garrett and Michael Baumgartner; great-nieces, Jessica
Garrett, Gloria and Natalie Masterson, and Jennifer Stock. He
was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Baumgartner; his
adoptive parents, John and Mae Gruber, a sister, Mary Jane Gruber
and a aunt, Clementine Plunckett.
Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, December 28, 2002,
at 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Foxholm.
Visitation: Friday, December 27, 2002 from Noon until
7 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot
Rosary Recitation: Friday, December 27, 2002 at 7 p.m.
at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot.
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Foxholm, ND.
Celebrant: Father Keith Striefel
Music: Processional "On Eagles Wings"
Offertory, "Amazing Grace"
Communion "How Great Thou Art"
Recessional "Angels Among Us" by Alabama
Jody Bock, vocalist
Gerald Schlag, accordion
Joanne Rademacher, organist
Honorary Bearers: Thomas's family and friends in the
community
Active Bearers: John Westlie, Allyn Marun, Michael
Baumgartner, David Miller, Myron Stromberg and Terry Ferdinand
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