Fr. John Gruber (1908-1968)

Father John saw the light of day in Union City, Ind., being born January 30, 1908.  He graduated from Union City High School and then came to St. Benedict’s College.  He was professed July 2, 1929 and ordained May 26, 1934.  He had received a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Benedict’s College and studied his theology there. 

Abbot Martin Veth appointed Father John to the staff of Maur Hill High School in 1935 and he remained there until 1958.  There he was teacher, librarian, vice-principal, and director of Camp St. Maur, 1944-48.    He served at Maur Hill 23 years and his students knew him as a very good and fair teacher, ever relentless in demanding book reports.  Father John had received a masters in library science from the University of Denver in 1943. 

 After he returned to the Abbey, Father John served faithfully the parish of Sacred Heart, Ottawa, Kan.  He was loved there as shown when two bus loads of parishioners came to his funeral.  John Gruber died of cancer at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Kansas City, Kan.