Mary Jo Gruba

Mary Jo Gruba, age 64, of Milaca, passed away Thursday, February 20, 2025 surrounded by her family.  Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca.  Interment will follow at Wendell Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will take place from 4 - 7 PM Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Mary Jo Gruba was born October 21,1960 in Milaca, Minnesota to Albert and Ruth (Stark) Johnson. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church. She attended school in Milaca and graduated from Milaca High School in 1979. She worked at the Milaca Elim Home while still in high school. She attended St. Cloud Vocational College for Accounting. After graduating she found a job with Gorecki Manufacturing which is now CMCMS where she worked for over 40 years.

In March of 1982, Mary Jo was united in marriage to Tim Gruba. They made their home in Milaca living on Tim’s family’s farm for a few years before buying their first house in Milaca. While living in Milaca they were blessed with 3 wonderful children. In Spring of 2005, Tim and Mary Jo built their dream home, on Mary Jo’s family farm. Mary Jo was a very happy and loving person who loved everyone. She was a devoted Christian, who loved helping out at church and was part of the Bell Choir. She loved her family, children and grandchildren very much. She also loved going on family vacations with her family, her sister and her family. Going to Wisconsin Dells, and the Fishing Cabin every year were highlights of her vacations. Going to Florida with her family, her sister and her family was another fun vacation she loved doing. Having family reunions and Christmas at her house was what she loved, even when she was going through chemo she still said we had to hold those events at the house. Not many things stopped Mary Jo from doing things. She loved going to watch her grandkids in all their activities: baseball, bowling, dancing, wrestling, t-ball, swimming lessons and archery. She always made sure Tim or herself were at an activity or sometimes they were the 3rd runner if some of the grandkids had multiple things on the same day. Family was everything to Mary Jo. During family events you always knew Mary Jo was around when we heard her laugh, she had a contagious laugh that everyone knew and could never forget. She was a strong and courageous person while battling cancer. She never really complained about much and was very positive throughout this journey.

Mary Jo is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Tim; her loving children, Andrea (Steve) Swenson, Michelle (Levi) Fjerstad and Evan (Lana) Gruba all of Milaca; 9 grandchildren, Oliver, Jack and Evelyn Swenson, Wyatt and Eleanor Fjerstad, and Violet, Brynn, Rylee and Madison Gruba; sister, Karen (Gary) Edmison of Princeton; brother-in-law, Al (Vicky) Gruba of Milaca; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Ruth Johnson; in-laws, Al and Maxine Gruba and great-nephew, Joel Gibbs.