VERA IRENE GRIFFIN GRUBER EBY

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An angel of The Greatest Generation left the earth on Friday October 12, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. to better help us from afar.
 
She was a very caring mother, devoted family member, patriotic veteran and a friend to humans and animals alike. She was someone you would forever wish to learn from and share life with for she enriched all of creation that she touched.
 
Vera was born on August 15, 1918, in Milwaukee, WI to Irene Lydia Reinhardt Griffin and David Henry Griffin. She was the baby sister of Marjorie Imogene Griffin Dockray Milano and Rex Miles Griffin. Marjorie could not pronounce "Vera" so called her "Booty", a nickname that stuck for life. 

  

The family moved to the Eau Claire area in 1920 where Vera attended Eau Claire schools graduating in 1936. The family then briefly lived in Minneapolis, MN before returning to Eau Claire, WI. Vera was active in many school, church and civic activities all her life. Vera then worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at Northern States Power Company where her father was a dispatcher until her tour in the U.S. Navy from October 1942 to October 1945. She was stationed at Burton-Judson, Great Lakes, Chicago, IL and the University of Chicago as a Storekeeper 2nd Class, allowing Paul Connor, who became a lifelong friend, to go into combat. Vera made many treasured friends for life while in the Navy. Marilyn Bigelow and Betty Nelson Peterson, among others, still communicate with Vera to this day. Vera loved history and had a terrific memory, never forgetting her friends special occasions or historic events.
 
On January 26, 1947, Vera married her childhood sweetheart, John "Jack" (Whiting) Gruber, who had enlisted in the Army Air Corps, her wedding dress made from his silk parachute. Military life was challenging, but rewarding and they traveled the world extensively, living in Japan during the Occupation in 1948. Upon return to the States, they were stationed in Kansas City, MO where their only daughter, Jill Marene, was born in August of 1951. Thereafter, the family was stationed at Truax Field in Madison, WI before John's squadron, "Satan's Angels", was transferred to Fairbanks, AK for Mach and Sonic Boom testing from 1953 to 1955. This was the most wonderful commission the family had in this pristine wilderness. Vera caught a record Mackinaw trout, chased off a Lynx and lost the maps. However, the Al-Can Highway was one lane dirt and gravel so maps weren't really needed. We made it up and back in a Ford Crown Victoria, Air Stream trailer with two cocker spaniels named Champie and Laddie. Vera enjoyed all of nature, especially animals, and was an expert markswoman and archeress. She never shot animals except with a camera and only helped them, whatever they were. 
 
Vera worked in several military and civilian organizations across the country. Upon relocation to Eau Claire, WI, most notably, she worked on the fundraising campaign for Sacred Heart Hospital built in 1964, then for the landscaping firm who did the original landscaping for the hospital.
 
After Lt. Col. John Gruber, USAF Ret. passed away, Vera married an old Navy friend, Storekeeper 1st Class Walter Alan Eby and resided in San Clemente, CA. They enjoyed traveling extensively until Walter passed away. Vera returned to Eau Claire where she has since resided with her daughter, Jill.
 
Even with all the traveling Vera did and her many accomplishments in her life, family and friends always came first and she took tender loving care of each and every one of us. She will be deeply missed by all she leaves behind but forever touched by her eternal love.
 
Vera was preceded in death by her infant brother Reinhardt Griffin; mother, Irene Lydia Griffin; her father, David Henry Griffin; her husband and father of Jill Marene Whiting, Lt. Col. John "Jack" (Whiting) Gruber, USAF Ret.; her sister, Marjorie Imogene Griffin Dockray Milano; her brother, Rex Miles Griffin; husband 1st Class Storekeeper Walter Alan Eby, USN Ret., and many dear pets, extended family and dear friends.
 
Vera is survived by her daughter, Jill Marene Whiting, Eau Claire, WI; devoted friend and neighbor, Michael "Arch Angel" Matz, Eau Claire, WI; nephew Joseph C. Milano (Joy) and family, Independence, OH; niece Mary Ann Milano Jurek (Steve), St. James City, FL; niece Vicky Griffin Jared, (Richard), Martinez, CA; sister-in-law Mae Goulet Griffin, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; cousins Susan Zuech and Linda Larson, Eau Claire, WI; Theone Kees, Galen Kees and Linda (Rex) Hoover Kees, Durand, WI; Roger (Connie) Kees, Lake Wissota, WI; Chip Kees, Cincinnati, OH; Emily Mattschek (Ken), Raleigh, NC; Duane Reinhardt, Aberdeen, SD; Ruby Reinhardt, Sebastopol, CA; Richard (Elaine) Reinhardt, Maple Grove, MN; Joyce Larabee and family, Elk Mound, WI; Dawn Laundry and family, Inver Grove Heights, MN; Linda Pulford, Buhl, MN and other extended family.
 
Many dear friends and neighbors: Lois, Jack, Kathy, Scott, Kurt and Shawn Franklin and Mike Johnson Eau Claire & New Auburn, WI; Margaret "Margo" Graham and family, Chicago, IL; Marilyn Bigelow, Cedar Falls, IA; Betty Nelson Peterson, Oak Park, MI; Jerry (Betty) Sherman & family (Brad, Peggy, Jane), Beaver Dam, WI; Marcille DeBusk, San Diego, CA; James Hager, Fall Creek, WI; Marion Jane Larson, Chippewa Falls, WI; Romona Bell Miller, Eau Claire, WI; Delores Quick and family, Eau Claire, WI; Ruth Rickard and family, Eau Claire, WI; John and June Owens, White Pine Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Fall Creek, WI; Cecil and Shirley Berlin, Eau Claire, WI; Glen Hampton, Eau Claire, WI: Scott Isaacson, Eau Claire, WI; Mary Jane Garnett, Eau Claire, WI; Michael Buckley, Flagstaff, AZ; Richard Howard, Sioux Falls, SD; Amy Alpine, Eau Claire,WI; Michael & Dawn Benish family, Spearsville, KS; Marion Schlewitz, Eau Claire, WI; Art & LaVerne Akers, Albuquerque, NM; Marcia Galvin, Red Wing, MN; Earl (Betty) Mosel, Eau Claire, WI; "Bunk" (Eileen) Gordon, Eau Claire, WI; Robin Tainter of Eau Claire, WI; Julie Rohn of Chippewa Falls, WI; Tom Simon, Endeavor, WI; Debbie Bragg Coglianese, Minneapolis, MN; Bridget Bandach, Chippewa Falls,WI; Jerry (Arleen) Frank, Eau Claire, WI; Margaret "Pego" Mack, Topeka, KS; Mary Mack, Glastonbury, CT; Madelene Sak, Worcester, MA; Rachel Little, Glastonbury, CT; Mark Ziburis, South Windsor, CT; Tom and Grace Palshaw, Ellington, CT; Lucille LeClair and family, Wethersfield, CT; Bill and Karen Patterson, South Windsor, CT; Susan Diaz and family, Miami, FL; Rose Bolton and family, Newington, CT; Kathy Stucklen and family, CT and PA; Herb Suessenbach, Phoenix, AZ; Jim (Robin) Erickson, Eau Claire, WI; Tina Kixel-Marten, Eau Claire, WI; Shirley Rice, Hibbing, MN; Yvonne Ress, Eau Claire, WI; Barb, Mark and Claire Horton, St. Louis, MO; Jessica and Mike Barrickman, Eau Claire,WI; Julie Rohn, Chippewa Falls, WI; Julie Wyatt Davidson; Alicia Davidson and Family and Chiquita Wyatt of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 
 
A special thank you and God Bless You to our professional and personal friends who have helped us through this journey; Judy Meinen, RN, CH of Angel Care Healing Touch; Richard Marano, BS, CH of The Hypnosis Center of Eau Claire; Clayton Bowman, D.D. of Angelic Auras; Northwest Hospice Care staff: Pat Chittendon, Chaplain; Diane Stegner Roadt, Social Worker; Melanie Forester, RN; Kris Slattery, RN; Tim RN. Dove Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation staff, you have all been great with special thanks to Sarah, Donna (John), Heather, Sherri and Erin, CNAs. Also thanks to the staff of Eau Claire Medical Clinic, Marshfield Clinic-Eau Claire; Sacred Heart Hospital; Citizens Community Federal Credit Union; Attorney Gregory Brown; Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home.
 
We thank you all sincerely for helping us through Vera's life and if we missed anyone, we apologize, but hope you know we do appreciate you and you know who you are.
 
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Animal Humane Society of your choice, White Pine Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Fall Creek, WI and/or Wholistic Healing Arts Center, 1119 Regis Ct, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Also, please remember to do a random act of kindness. Thank you.
 
A funeral service for Vera will be held on Friday, October 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Rd, Eau Claire, WI with Chaplin Pat Chittendon officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 3:30 pm until 7:00 pm where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m., and again on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Durand, WI at 2:30 pm. where military honors will be performed.