Rickey " Rick" D. Gruber

Rickey D. Gruber, age 79 of Mankato, passed away on August 30, 2026 at Benedictine Living, St. Peter.

Mass of Christan Burial will be 11:00 am Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, North Mankato. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00pm at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary with a 4:00 pm Rosary. Visitation continues at 10:00am Saturday at church. Burial with military honors at Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Complete obituary and service livestream at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Rickey Dean was born July 30, 1947 in Mankato MN to Milo and June (Hoffman) Gruber. He graduated from Mankato High School in 1965, and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1966, serving in Vietnam in 1967-1968 before his honorable discharge in 1969. Rick was united in marriage to Julianne M. Telshaw on August 30, 1969 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, North Mankato. They made their home in Mankato where Rick had a 47-year career at Honeymead (later CHS) in Mankato before retiring. After retirement he spent several years working at Menards.

Rick was very active in all organizations he was involved with. He was a union member- serving as steward, Holy Rosary as a catechist and eucharistic minister, was very involved with One Bright Star, and as a North Mankato Volunteer Firefighter. He enjoyed the outdoors, camping, fishing, playing sports into adulthood, and was a passionate supporter of athletics for his children and grandchildren.

Left to remember Rick are his wife Julianne; children: Jennifer (Eduardo) Ek, Jessica (David) Godek, Ben (Shay) Gruber, Andrea (Jason) Steffen, Damian (Brittany) Gruber, and Brianna Gruber; grandchildren: Raquel (Kyle) Wittnebel, Alex (Kyerea) Ek, Justin (Jane) Ek, Casey (Bridget) Ek, Patrick Godek, Reagan Godek, Mak Godek, Jayda Godek, Jerrid Wasinger, Kade (Ashtyn) Wasinger, Brenden Gruber, Alexys (Jacob) Steffen, Elyse Steffen, Jonathan Steffen, and Callan Gruber; great grandchildren: Addy Maxfield, Charlotte Maxfield, Milo Ek, Simon Ek, Mable Ek, Sterling Ek, Maisyn, Krew, and Kash Wasinger; sisters: Sandra (Glen) O’Connor, and Sherry (Len) Schweisthal; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandson Eric Godek. 

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.