In Loving Memory GENE GRUHN

The Mass of Christian Burial WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2002, 10:30 AM SACRED HEART CHURCH MANILLA, IOWA
Celebrant FATHER ROBERT GRALAPP
Mass Servers TIM & MICHAEL BEXTEN
Gift Bearers GENE’S FAMILY
Music “HERE I AM LORD” “ONLY A SHADOW” “HOSEA” “HOW GREAT THOU ART” SACRED HEART ADULT CHOIR
Interment MANNING CEMETERY MANNING, IOWA
Casketbearers: NYLE GRUHN, GARRY GRUHN, MARK GRUHN, NORM SEIB, TOM SEIB, ROGER OHDE

THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE COMMITTAL SERVICE.
DRIVERS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION MUST TURN ON VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS, DRIVE IN A CLOSE FORMATION AND BE ALERT.

Gene Robert, son of August and Minnie (Ranniger) Gruhn, was born April 13, 1933, on a farm near Manilla, Iowa. He attended school in Manilla, graduating with the Manilla High School class of 1951. In 1957 Gene graduated from the University of Iowa with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology and went on to work in Michigan with the City of Detroit Public School System, residing in Hazel Park. Gene retired in 1986 and remained in Michigan until moving to Mesa, Arizona in 1987. Due to failing health, Gene returned to Iowa in 2001 to live with his sister in Des Moines.

Gene was a member of St. John’s Basilica in Des Moines. He had many hobbies that mostly included any game that challenged the mind. Gene was currently a nationally ranked Scrabble player and played bridge, attaining his Masters in Duplicate Bridge at a very young age. He was a self-taught concert piano player, playing for many small groups including a stint at the Mayo Clinic. Later he donated his piano to the Klondike Hotel Museum in Manilla. Gene was the Pinball Champion of Detroit, Michigan for 1982-1983.

On Sunday, December 30, 2001, Gene died at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa, at the age of 68 years, 8 months and 18 days.

Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by four brothers: Laverne, Lewis, Norman and Lyle Gruhn; and a sister Margaret and her husband Raymond Ohde.

He is survived by a sister Ethel and her husband Leo Seib of Des Moines and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.