03/22/2014
Mary Ann (Sytsma) Gruber, age 83 of Knoxville passed away at her daughters home in Knoxville on Saturday March 22, 2014.
Mary Ann was born August 20, 1930 in Leighton, Iowa, the daughter of Daniel and Lena (De Hamer) Sytsma. Mary Ann went to a country school near Tracy and graduated from Knoxville High School.
After high school she worked at the Van Ginkel Egg & Produce Hatchery of Knoxville. At the hatchery, Mary Ann met Peter Gruber and on September 25, 1956 in Knoxville they were united in marriage. They were blessed with 56 years of marriage and four children; Danny, Dianne, Rosemary and Nancy.
Mary Ann was a homemaker, raising her family, for many years before she began to clean house around Knoxville. Later she became a certified CAN and worked at the local care centers in Knoxville. She retired from the West Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Mary Ann enjoyed life and stayed very active. When she was younger Mary Ann enjoyed fishing with her family. She liked sewing, baking, gardening, garage sales and going to the Goodwill Store.
She was very helpful to her family and friends and enjoyed spending time at the Coffee Connection and with his farmer’s market family of which he was active with for many years.
She was a member of the Christ Church of Knoxville and she loved spending time with the ladies of Christ Church, her friends at Prairie Village, and her children and grandchildren.
Mary Ann is survived by her children, Danny Gruber of Knoxville, Dianne Holst and husband Gary of Oskaloosa, Rosemary Simmons and husband Richard of Ankeny, and Nancy VanderVeer and husband Joe of Knoxville; eight grandchildren, Kristopher and Tommy Watson, Cole, Kallie and Devin Simmons, Stephanie, Craig and Bennett VanderVeer.
Mary Ann is also survived by two sisters, Marjorie Vander Werff of Pella and Audrey Kennedy of Knoxville; and one brother Kenneth Sytsma of Knoxville. She was preceded by her parents, Daniel and Lena Sytsma; her husband, Peter Gruber; and one brother Leo Sytsma.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at the Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville, with Dr. Bob Rietveld and Pastor Ethan Book officiating. Burial will follow services at Asbury Cemetery of rural Knoxville.
Visitation with Mary Ann’s family present will be held from 4 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday March 25th, also at the Winfield Funeral Home
A memorial has been established to the Hospice of Pella.
Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com.
The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville is helping Mary Ann’s family with arrangements.