Ronald Lee Gruis

Rock Rapids, IA

          Ronald Gruis, age 75 of Rock Rapids, IA died on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at his home in Rock Rapids, IA.

     Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dan Kordahl officiating.  

     Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.

     Military Honors by Van Anne-Fields Post No. 6960, VFW, & Rex Strait Post No. 103, American Legion              

     Visitation will be Friday, July 12th^th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with family present at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.

     Ronald Lee Gruis was born March 21, 1944 in Rock Rapids, IA to Ivan and Caroline (Krull) Gruis. He was raised in Rock Rapids and received his education at a country school near Rock Rapids. In May of 1964 Ron enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Polk, LA, Fort Carson, CO and Fort Riley, KS. He was honorably discharged in April of 1971. On March 15, 1969 he was united in marriage to Betty Riebeling. To this union three children were born, Pam, Joel and Tim.

     In his younger life, Ron worked as a welder at Sudenga Industries. He later began driving truck and worked for McCormick Transportation and retired from Panama Trucking in Sioux Falls, SD. Ron and Betty moved to a farm outside of Rock Rapids where Ron could work and considered himself a hobby farmer. He enjoyed every minute of it.

     Ron was a very hard-working man. He was a wonderful example to his children and taught them all a good work ethic. He was also very handy and could fix anything. This skill lent itself well to many building projects over his life including a race car or two and go-carts for the kids when they were young. He also loved playing softball. Ron was a very good pitcher and played for many many years. The highlight of his softball career may have been when he pitched at the National Softball Tournament that took place in West Virginia.

     Ron was fairly quiet and not a man of many words. He chose his words carefully, but his family knew that he loved them very much. He had a good sense of humor and liked to tell them stories. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his kids especially when they were younger. He was famous in his family for his skill of grilling hot dogs. He considered them just right while most other people thought they were downright burnt. His favorite place to be was home. He wasn’t one to complain. Even when his COPD started to get the better of him. Ron’s family stood by prayerfully as the disease grew more and more serious until this past Wednesday when Ron passed away at his home at the age of 75. He will be greatly missed.

     He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty Gruis of Rock Rapids; daughter, Pam (Lyndon) Johnson of Montrose, SD; sons, Joel (Nicole) Gruis of Colton, SD and Tim (Liz) Gruis of Hoisington, KS; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Pat Huisman of Rock Rapids, IA; brothers-in-law, Glen Hoekstra and Doug Bauer, both of Sioux Falls, SD; nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

     Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Caroline Gruis; sisters, Marilyn Hoekstra, Sharon Lerdal and Ardell Bauer; brother, Douglas Gruis; grandson, Connor Blom; and granddaughter, Isabelle Gruis.