Anton Gruber, 83, a resident of the Town of East Fishkill, died at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie on Monday, November 15, 2010.
Born in Krndja, Yugoslavia on December 5, 1926, he was the son of the late Franz and Anna Riegl Gruber. In 1951, he emigrated to the United States with his wife and young family aboard the U.S.S. Hershey. They lived in Sharon, PA until moving to Manhattan and later the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. The Gruber family moved to Dutchess County in 1977.
Throughout his lifetime, Anton held several jobs including employment by U.S. Steel and working as a building superintendent, handyman, plumber and carpenter. In 1990 he retired as a cabinet maker from Haggerty Millwork in Mt. Kisco after having been employed there for 12 years. His favorite hobby was chess, and he played at the East Fishkill Chess Club, Vassar College, and Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie. He coached in the East Fishkill Soccer Club for 10 years and participated with East Fishkill Senior Citizens. He also loved sports and was a New York Rangers fan.
On July 2, 1949, he married Katherine Beinhardt in Austria. Mrs. Gruber survives at home.
Anton is also survived by two daughters, Helga Courtney & her husband Stephen of Ridgefield, CT and Anna Wilson & her husband Brian of Meriden, CT; a son, Anthony Gruber & his wife Melissa of Hopewell Junction; his grandchildren, Katharine, Kristen & Stephen Courtney, Courtnay & Brian Wilson, and Maximillian & Cristian Gruber. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving family members and friends.
In addition to his parents, Anton was also predeceased by his brother Franz Gruber.
Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, followed by interment at St. Denis Cemetery in Hopewell Junction.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 or the American Heart Association, Heart Gift Processing Center, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220.