Carolyn Gruber

Gruber, Carolyn 12/1/2020 Sturgis Carolyn A Gruber age 88 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Tuesday morning December 1, 2020 at the Gardens of The Fountains at Bronson Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born in Peoria, Illinois daughter of the late George and Julia (Roguszka) Dammann. Mrs. Gruber resided in Sturgis since 2000 coming from Kalamazoo. Her early life was spent in Peoria where she was a graduate of Academy of Our Lady High School. She furthered her education at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. On October 24, 1959 she married Donald Charles Gruber who preceded her in death in February 2017. Mrs. Gruber retired from the Upjohn Corporation in Kalamazoo following over 20 years of dedicated employment which began with research in the biology labs and eventually to administering medical trials internationally primarily in Australia, Asia and South America. She was a member of St. Claire Mission Parish in Centreville. Known as "Bugs" when she was the batgirl for the Peoria Red Wings professional women's baseball team during the 1946 and 1947 seasons. She instilled a love of books in her family and her grandchildren will forever remember how she could play a mean game of Scrabble. She is survived by two daughters: Christa Gruber of Chicago, Illinois and Ann (Walter) Gruber de Oliveira of Ann Arbor; one son: Dr. David Gruber of Grand Rapids; three grandchildren: Stefano, Sophie and Sandro de Oliveira; one brother: Gordon (Karen) Dammann of Lena, Illinois and one sister: Elaine (Gary) Clark of Peoria, Illinois and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff of the Gardens for the love and care that was extended to their mother. In accordance with her wishes cremation has taken place. Private services and burial of the ashes will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan at a later date. The Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331 is entrusted with the arrangements. The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial donations remembering Carolyn be directed to University of Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center at alzheimers.med.umich.edu. The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where we encourage relatives and friends to share memories and leave condolences for the family.