Peter J. Gruss

Peter Gruss, 87, of Beal City, passed away Friday, August 29, 2014, at Maplewood in Mt. Pleasant. A Funeral Mass for Peter will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Beal City with Father Ricky Varner presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the gathering room at the church on Monday from 4-8 p.m. with rosary being recited at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues on Tuesday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker School or Woodland Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the church or at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Peter was born June 27, 1927, in Mt. Pleasant, son of the late Joseph H. and Nora E. (Brubaker) Gruss. He graduated from Beal City High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952. He married Martha Wilmot on Nov. 29, 1952, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, antique cars, and hunting. He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and was the former Deerfield Township Clerk. Peter is survived by six children, Karl (Annette) Gruss of Mt. Pleasant, Joni Gruss of Midland, Marlene (Doug) Gill of Rosebush, Joe (Brenda) Gruss of Mt. Pleasant, Michelle Gruss of Grand Rapids, and Gina (Brett) Benaske of Beal City; grandchildren, 13 grandchildren, Aaron (Stacy) Gruss, Kelly (Corey) Block, Eric (Jill) Gruss, Clint (Elizabeth) Gill, Bryon (Jen) Gill, Tony (Lindsay Hendershot) Gill, Miranda (Chris) Schomisch and Evan Lund, Eddie Joe, Cody and, Nathan Gruss, Alex and Hannah Benaske; eight great-grandchildren, Cade, Drew and Brynn Block, Ella Gill, Allison and Mason Gill, Sofie Gruss and Gemma Lau; brother, Richard Gruss of Beal City; sister, Joan (Ron) Schumacher of Beal City; two sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Gruss of Grand Rapids and Betty Gruss of Mt. Pleasant; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha in 2012; infant son, Michael; and brothers, Clarence, Bud and Rollen Gruss.