Surnames: GRUBA

----Sources: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 03/19/1931

Gruba, Joseph (29 DEC 1904 - 8 Mar 1931)

Father Bernard, known as Joseph Gruba, son of John Gruba of the town of Thorp, Clark Co., Wis., passed away at Springfield, Ill., on Sunday, March 8, 1931, at the age of 26 years.

Joseph was born in Delano, Minn. On Dec. 29th, 1904. At the age of fifteen he entered St. Bonaventure’s College at Mt. Pleasant, Sturdevant, Wis., from which he graduated in the year 1926. The September of the same year he joined the Franciscan Order in Pulaski, Wis. After one year spent in the novitiate he went to Green Bay where he continued his studies. On Feb. 17th, 1929, he took sick with double pneumonia from the effects of which he never recovered.

The funeral took place at Green Bay, Wis., on March 11th, in St. Mary of the Angels Church at 10:00 a.m.

The chanting of the office of the dead by over thirty priests and clerics preceded the funeral.

Rev. Ferdinand Pawlowski, O.F.M. Commissary Provincial President, officiated at the Solemn Requiem High Mass. Three other masses were said at the same time by the side altars.

The choir consisted of a large number of priests and clerics of the Franciscan Order. A beautiful sermon was delivered by Rev. Leonard Ziolkoski, O.F.M. Rector.

At two o’clock p.m. the funeral procession started for Pulaski which is a distance of twenty miles, escorted by three speed officers.

After short services in the Church of the Assumption which was again largely attended by novices, clerics, priests and the faithful, the body was taken to its final resting place in the adjoining cemetery, six clerics acting as pallbearers.

Deceased leaves to mourn his premature death his father, brothers and sisters and many relatives and friends.

Those who attended the funeral of Fr. Bernard Gruba at Green Bay, Wis. were: John Gruba, son Al., daughter Agnes, Miss Eleanor Schmidt, Sr. Ursula of Minneapolis and Sr. Hyacinth and Sr. Bernard of Wyandotte, Mich.