Valery "Larry" Gruber

Valery Gruber, age 98, of Pierz, MN, passed away Friday, February 19, 2016, at her home at Meadow Ponds in Pierz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Pierz, MN, with Fr. Kenneth Popp officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26th and 9:00 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 27th all at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz.

There will be a Christian Mothers Rosary at 4:30 and Parish Prayers at 7:00 on Friday at the funeral home.

Valery Larry Martha Posterick was born on December 12, 1917 in Buckman Township, Morrison County, Minnesota the daughter of John Margareth (Kalis) Posterick. She attended country school through the eighth grade. After graduating from eighth grade, she went to St. Cloud to work for a family and then to Little Falls where she worked at the Buckman Hotel sending money home to help support her family. She was united in marriage to Alfred Al Gruber on August 28, 1943 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton. The couple farmed in Lastrup until 1955 when they moved to the west side of Little Falls and started the Jack Jill Grocery Store. Then in 1964, they moved to Genola where they owned and operated Als Bar. After retiring, they continued living in the Pierz area. She enjoyed quilting, baking, gardening, making poppy seed coffee cakes, and making her famous molasses cut-out cookies at Christmas for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also a faithful volunteer at the Villa in Pierz for many years. Valery was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Pierz and the Christian Mothers.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Gayle (Gwen) Gruber of Wyoming, MN and Ed (Diane) Gruber of Ramsey, MN daughters, Sherrie Kjorsvik of Michigan, ND and Dionne (Louie) Kopka of Blaine, MN; siblings, Alfred Posterick of Randall, MN, Alois (Elaine) Posterick of Sartell, MN and Shirley (Bill) Basset of Brainerd, MN; aunt, Cordelia Prokett of Lino Lake, MN; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Valery was preceded in death by her parents, John Margareth (Kalis) Posterick; husband, Alfred Al Gruber (July 27, 1990); son-in-law, Gaylyn Kjorsvik; brothers, George, Lawrence and Jack, Jr. and sisters, Burt Halama, Betty Lou Sykes, and two infant sisters.