Reinold Gruber

Reinold J. "Reinie" Gruber, 78, of Melrose died Tues. Aug. 31, 2004 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. followed by Knights of Columbus; and St. Michael's Men's Society of Spring Hill at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Reinold J. Gruber was born on Nov. 19, 1925 in Spring Hill, MN to Peter L. and Margaretha (Jaeger) Gruber. He was a steel guitar player in Reinie's Orchestra for many years. Reinie married Kathrine I. "Kitty" Van Beck on June 26, 1950 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Melrose. They lived near Spring Hill where they farmed until 1960. They owned and operated Reinie's Bar and Grocery for 8 years. He was employed as a truck driver by Stearns County and Gebeke Transport. They then resided at Birch Lake, Millwood Twsp. Stearns County until moving back to Melrose in 1986. Reinie enjoyed fishing and watching baseball. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #1633 and St. Michael's Men's Society of Spring Hill.

Survivors include his wife, Kathrine "Kitty" Gruber of Melrose, children, Thomas Gruber of Freeport, Gail Olmscheid (Duane) of Melrose, Sr. Mary Katherine of Baltic, Conn., Richard Gruber (Irene) of Melrose, Margaret Knutson (Barton) of Belgrade, Peter Gruber (Diane) of Melrose, Albert Gruber (Mona) of Greenwald, Amy Lamusga (Larry) of Grey Eagle, Wanda Timp (Mike) of Freeport, Reinold R. Gruber (Brenda) of Clearwater, Chad Gruber (Kelly) of Bartlett, IL; 34 grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Aurelia Bauer (Wally) of Cannon Falls, Lillian Viere of St. Paul Park, Sylvester Gruber (Bertie Lou) of North Branch, and Ralph Gruber of So. St. Paul.

He was preceded in death by his parents; children, infant Mary Gruber, baby boy Gruber; and brother, Hilarian Gruber.

Casket bearers will be his sons, Tom, Richard, Peter, Albert, Reinold R. and Chad Gruber. Cross bearer will be Heather Olmscheid. Scripture bearer will be Sara Schaefer. Honorary bearers will be St. Michael's Men's Society of Spring Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.