Sept. 11, 2017 – Kewaskum, WI – Harlan J. Gruber, 88, of Fond du Lac, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2017, at The Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac.
He was born on July 27, 1929 to the late John and Mary Ann (nee Goretski) Gruber in Kewaskum. Harlan honorably served in the United States Army from 1948 until 1952 during the Korean War and was discharged as a Staff Sargent. In 1951, he married Evelyn Joyce Walters in Waco, Texas.
They made their home in Kewaskum. Evelyn preceded him in death in May of 1989.
In 1969, he started Gruber Tool & Die Company, which he ran until he retired and is now owned by his two nephews, David and Donald Gruber. On April 12, 1991, he was united in marriage to Darlene Johnson in Juneau. Harlan enjoyed fishing, golfing, and wood working in his spare time. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Those Harlan leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife, Darlene Gruber of Fond du Lac; two sons, Raymond (Maria) Gruber of Sherwood, Oregon and Robert Gruber of Wyoming; a daughter, Susan (Jerry) Homuth of West Bend. Four step-children, Julia (Patty) Knaak of Sheboygan, Jeffrey (Brenda Fitzpatrick) Johnson of Eldorado, Timothy (Sharon) Johnson of DePere, and Nichol (Kevin Shaffer) Johnson of Belgium; five grandchildren, Rick Otte, Jeff Otte, Daniel Homuth, Michael Homuth, and Melissa (Bobby) Holzhauer, his sister, Mary Joyce (Alan) Stutzman; a sister-in-law, Alice Gruber; a brother-in-law, Alan Stutzman; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents and first wife, he is preceded in death by his three brothers, Robert (Jeanette) Gruber, Joseph (Taeko) Gruber, and Andrew “Gene” Gruber.
A funeral service in remembrance of Harlan will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at the Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home in Kewaskum. Rev. Edwin Kornath will officiate and burial will follow at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Cemetery in Kewaskum.
The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Harlan’s arrangements.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac, Dr. Kumar, and Dr. Wright for the excellent care provided to Harlan.