Ralph Gruber

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Friday, October 11, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service.  

Open Visitation: Will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Thursday evening at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Fontanelle Fire and Rescue or to the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. 

Ralph Ottmar Gruber was born January 12, 1935, in Adair County, Iowa, the son of Ottmar and Rickie (Weinheimer) Gruber. He passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Iowa, at the age of 84.

Ralph graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1954. On August 14, 1955, he was united in marriage to Janice Eileen McCartney in the United Methodist Church in Fontanelle. To this union three daughters were born: Debbie, Denise and Rita. They lived in Fontanelle their entire lives. Ralph and Janice made their home on Main Street in Fontanelle for over 60 years.

Ralph owned and operated a Variety store in Fontanelle and also a Skelly gas station. He then served as a custodian at the B-F Community School for many years, retiring in 1999. He enjoyed Allis Chalmers tractors, his John Deere lawn mower, playing cards, woodworking, bike riding, going to the Iowa State Fair and watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday night. He was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed helping with the little train in Fontanelle.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janice in 2018; sister, Gladys Kading; and brother, Clarence Gruber.

He is survived by his three daughters, Debbie (Jon) Engelstad of Ankeny, Denise (Jeff) Landt of Garwin and Rita (Denny) Rosenberg of Grimes; 11 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.