Jerry Gruber

Jerry Lee Gruber, 72, of Ramer, TN, passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at home. He was born on July 13, 1953 in Findlay, OH to Lester and Donna (Christman) Gruber. On February 9, 1974, he married Linda Murphy. They later divorced. He then married Penny (Hephner) Bolton on June 22, 1994. She preceded him in death on February 12, 2019. God told him very clearly he was not done sharing his life with someone and he married Kate Riefler on December 1, 2019. She survives.

Jerry was a 1972 graduate of Hopewell-Louden High School in Bascom, OH. He enlisted in the Navy, attended boot camp, and electronics technician school at Great Lakes Naval Station, IL. During his career, he served proudly on multiple destroyers and amphibious warships. In addition to multiple deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and everywhere in between, Jerry served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He retired from the Navy in the Fall of 1996 as a Senior Chief at his final duty station on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Following retirement, Jerry worked at various companies providing IT support. His favorite activities involved being on a boat on Indian Lake, Ohio, playing golf (even if it was on the computer with his online friends), and spending time with his family, including all of his many pets over the years. He loved to travel to all the different places around the country to see his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Kate, Jerry is survived by his mother and step-father, Donna and Clyde Mason of Findlay, OH, his children, Amy (Rob) Ochier of Clyde, OH, Kelly (Marc) Letendre of Wasilla, AK, Thomas (Melanie) Bolton of Parachute, CO, Melody (Bill) Cheney of Cambridge, MN, Melissa (David) Monroe of Mobile, AL, and step-daughter Christine Wilson of Ramer, TN. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, his sisters, Kathy (Mike) Spriggs of Tiffin, OH, Karen (Phillip Baumgartner) Powers of Bloomville, OH, and Carol (Richard) Ginski of Largo, FL, along with step-siblings Eric and Sue Sundburg and Jack, Wes, and Tim Mason, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

In addition to his late-wife Penny, Jerry is preceded in death by his father and step-mother, Lester and Jane Gruber, step-sister Deanna Mason, step-brother Hank Sundburg, and nephews Andrew Schatzinger and Gary Ramsey.

Visitation with the family will be held at Clyde First United Methodist Church, 510 W. Maple St., Clyde, OH on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from noon until the service begins at 1 pm. The memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Charlene Thomas and assisted by Pastor Amy Ochier.

The family would like to thank everyone at Legacy Hospice in Selmer, TN for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pastor's Discretionary Fund at Clyde First UMC, American Cancer Society, a local veteran's charity, or the charity of the donors' choice.

Local arrangements are being handled by Recker-Auxter Funeral Home, Clyde, OH. Arrangements in Tennessee were handled by Associated Family Funeral Home, Adamsville, TN.