Irene A. (Joncas) Gruski

Irene A. Gruski, age 91, of De Pere, Wisconsin, and formerly of Munising, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 2, 2020, at Sage Meadow Assisted Living in De Pere, Wisconsin.  She was born on February 22, 1929, in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Andrew and Lydia (Gauthier) Joncas and her family moved to Escanaba when she was an infant.  Irene graduated from St. Anne’s Catholic School in 1942 and then Escanaba Senior High School in 1946.  She moved to Munising and worked at the Munising Café, the Beach Inn, Peoples State Bank, and the Munising Paper Company in the IBM department.  Irene married Stanley “Shorty” Gruski on August 9, 1952, and together raised their two children.  She worked many years as the bookkeeper at Madigan’s Hardware and retired from there.  Irene was a member of Sacred Heart Church and an active member of St. Anthony’s Guild and St. Joseph’s Circle.  She enjoyed playing BINGO and loved baking.  Irene cherished the Christmas season and made an array of wonderful cookies and was generous with gifts that she shared with family and friends.  The 4th of July was another time of year that she loved.  Irene kept an immaculate home and in her later years, she enjoyed taking trips to the casino.  Irene and Shorty were married over sixty-two years when he preceded her in death on March 30, 2015.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Valerie) Gruski of De Pere, WI and Julie Louis of Custer, WI; son-in-law, Carmen Louis of Rapid River, MI; grandchildren, Cheryl Amenson, Matthew (Elle) Louis, and Victoria Louis (fiancé Robert Qualls); great-grandchildren, Brylea, Lynkin, Shelbey, Isaac, Madeline, and Lydia; sister, Rose Alma Dahlgren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Charles, Loretta, Frances, Lorraine, Andrew, June, Rita, and Clarence.

Graveside services will be held at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

Irene’s family would like to thank the Sage Meadow Assisted Living, the Lyndahl Funeral Home, and the Bowerman Funeral Home.