1926
Stanley
2015
Stanley "Shorty" J. Gruski
March 29, 1926 — March 30, 2015
Munising
Stanley J. "Shorty" Gruski, age 89, of Munising, died Monday, March 30, 2015 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born in Munising on March 29, 1926 to the late Peter and Veronica (Novak) Gruski. Shorty's father died when he was very young and his mother married John Kuzma. Shorty attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1944 and immediately entered into the U.S. Army. He served in the World War II European theatre of operations for sixteen months as a tank commander with the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company A. Shorty was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in June of 1946. He began his employment with Kimberly Clark on October 1, 1946 as a Stock Clerk in Operations Department. On September 27, 1956 he posted into the Engineering Department as a labor and progressing to Crane Operator, the job he held at retirement. Shorty retired from the Munising Mill of Kimberly-Clark Corporation on January 1, 1988 after completing over forty-one years of service. On August 9, 1952 he married Irene Joncas. Shorty enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and horseshoes. He was a member of the Jewell Street Tigers horseshoe team and together they won numerous championships. Shorty loved everything outdoors: hunting, fishing (especially fly fishing), trapping, hiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling, shoveling, and gardening. He was an avid Green Bay Packers, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (football) fan and liked all types of automotive racing. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to polka music.
Shorty is survived by his wife of over 62 years, Irene Gruski; son - Michael (Valerie) Gruski of De Pere, WI; daughter - Julie (Carmen) Louis of Custer, WI; grandchildren - Matthew Louis (fiancée Samantha), Victoria Louis (boyfriend Jesse) and Cheryl (Eric) Amenson; great-grandchildren - Isaac, Brylea and Lynkin. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, his brother Walter Gruski, and his sisters Genevieve Gruski and Josephine Kirmo.
Shorty's family would like to thank the following for the wonderful care he received over the past several months: D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Tendercare Health Center, Marquette General Hospital, Harbour View Assisted Living, North Woods Home Care, Alger County Commission on Aging, Alger County EMS, and Munising Memorial Hospital.
Graveside services will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors and Fr. Frank Lenz will conclude with committal prayers.
Stanley J. "Shorty" Gruski, age 89, of Munising, died Monday, March 30, 2015 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born in Munising on March 29, 1926 to the late Peter and Veronica (Novak) Gruski. Shorty's father died when he was very young and his mother married John Kuzma. Shorty attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1944 and immediately entered into the U.S. Army. He served in the World War II European theatre of operations for sixteen months as a tank commander with the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company A. Shorty was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in June of 1946. He began his employment with Kimberly Clark on October 1, 1946 as a Stock Clerk in Operations Department. On September 27, 1956 he posted into the Engineering Department as a labor and progressing to Crane Operator, the job he held at retirement. Shorty retired from the Munising Mill of Kimberly-Clark Corporation on January 1, 1988 after completing over forty-one years of service. On August 9, 1952 he married Irene Joncas. Shorty enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and horseshoes. He was a member of the Jewell Street Tigers horseshoe team and together they won numerous championships. Shorty loved everything outdoors: hunting, fishing (especially fly fishing), trapping, hiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling, shoveling, and gardening. He was an avid Green Bay Packers, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (football) fan and liked all types of automotive racing. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to polka music.
Shorty is survived by his wife of over 62 years, Irene Gruski; son - Michael (Valerie) Gruski of De Pere, WI; daughter - Julie (Carmen) Louis of Custer, WI; grandchildren - Matthew Louis (fiancée Samantha), Victoria Louis (boyfriend Jesse) and Cheryl (Eric) Amenson; great-grandchildren - Isaac, Brylea and Lynkin. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, his brother Walter Gruski, and his sisters Genevieve Gruski and Josephine Kirmo.
Shorty's family would like to thank the following for the wonderful care he received over the past several months: D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Tendercare Health Center, Marquette General Hospital, Harbour View Assisted Living, North Woods Home Care, Alger County Commission on Aging, Alger County EMS, and Munising Memorial Hospital.
Graveside services will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors and Fr. Frank Lenz will conclude with committal prayers.
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