Alfred Grube

Grube, Alfred

Alfred W. Grube, 87, of Sheboygan, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at The Waterford at Plymouth, where he was a resident for the past nine months. Alfred was a pharmacist and businessman in Sheboygan for almost 50 years.

Alfred was born in Sheboygan on July 2, 1928, an only child to the late Alfred Peter and Wanda (Kaepernick) Grube. He attended Sheboygan Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in1946. Alfred then joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1946 to 1948. He then began his pharmacy education at the University of Wisconsin Madison with financial help from the G.I. Bill. He graduated and received his pharmacy license in 1952.

Alfred rejoined the Army in 1952 serving as a Medical Service Corps Officer on an Army hospi-tal ship and in a Battalion Aid Station in Korea. He returned to civilian life in 1954 and entered a medical technologist training program at Madison General Hospital which he completed in 1955.

On October 18, 1955, Alfred opened Grube Pharmacy in Northgate Shopping Center. Alfred owned and operated that pharmacy and eventually several other Grube Pharmacies until retiring at age 73. Along with his wife, Mary, he also acquired several Hallmark Card and Gift stores in the Sheboygan area. They operated Mary Lee's Hallmark in the Memorial Mall until 2006.

Al was a member of the Wisconsin Pharmacy Association board of directors for six years, serving as its President in 1988-89 and later its Chairman of the Board. He also was on the steering committee of National Association of Retail Druggists for two years, and on the Lakeshore Technical College Pharmacy Technician Advisory Council for eight years. Through the years, ten pharmacy interns completed their pharmacy education under his tutelage, and all of them re-ceived their license to practice in the state of Wisconsin. In 1994, Alfred received the Distin-guished Service Award, the state pharmacy association's highest award. In his acceptance speech, he encouraged his colleagues to adopt the slogan: "If it's going to be, it's up to me."

Al was active in many service and professional organizations. He was a member of She-boygan Rotary Club for 32 years, Sheboygan Association of Commerce Board of Directors, She-boygan Jaycees, Community Players (where he performed for eight years), Sheboygan Arts Foundation, Y's Men, Masonic Order, and the First Congregational Church. Alfred belonged to several state and national pharmacy organizations and wrote several articles for national trade magazines on such diverse subjects as training employees, utilizing home health products, and long-term care medication systems.

He was a consultant for the leading pharmacy service organization in the country, Ham-macher & Associates and also for Lyerly Seminars. He authored and co-authored two books, The Longevity Prescription, his recipe for living the good life, and Pathways to Success, co-authored with the former Kohler Co. and Vollrath executive, Ken Benson.

Al enjoyed many outdoor activities including swimming, walking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. He biked in several tours in the U.S. and Europe, and he enjoyed travel, visiting many countries in Europe and the Far East. He enjoyed acting in, and attending theatre productions. He started each day with an exercise routine which he credited, in part, to his long and healthy life.

Al was a gentle, patient, and loving husband, father, employer and friend.

Alfred was married to Marjorie Panetti from 1952 to 1981. She is the mother of their two daughters, Lauren and Liza. On February 14, 1983, he was united in marriage with Mary Dickman (nee Noll) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Reed Forbusch officiated and witnesses were Joan Forbusch and Don and Dawn Belleau.

Alfred is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary Grube of Sheboygan, and daughters Lauren Grube and Liza McQuade Campbell, both of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by step-children Daniel Dickman of Fond Du Lac, Jonathan Dickman of University Place, Washington, Thomas Dickman of Beaver Dam, and Teresa (Troy) Winton of Stoughton, and by grandchildren Taea (Josh) Jackson, Ryan (Allison) Campbell, Bethany Dickman, Patricia Dickman, Delaney Winton, Ramsey Winton, and by great-grandchildren Arwen Campbell, Avery Jackson, Ari Jack-son, JaVon Webster, and Kamea Virgo. He is further survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many good friends throughout the state. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, and son-in-law Clark Campbell.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 18, at First Congregational Church, 310 Bluff Ave., Sheboygan, with Pastor Jim Hollister officiating. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Thursday, September 17, 2015, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ballhorn Chapels and at the CHURCH Friday morning from 11 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Alfred's name. Please visit our website to sign the guestbook www.ballhornchapels.com.

His family would like to extend a special thank you for the loving care Al was given by the staff at The Waterford and from Hospice Advantage. We are also grateful for endless support from Embrace Care, Mary Pitsch, and dear friends and family.