Phyllis A. Gruel

Phyllis A. Gruel, age 88, of Bonduel, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Shawano. Phyllis was born May 8, 1935, to the late Leonard and Viola (Hoefs) Lemberg in the Town of Hartland, Shawano County. She graduated from Bonduel High School in 1953. Phyllis worked retail for Kmart in Green Bay for 42 years. She married Milton A. Sommer May 15, 1954, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bonduel, and they were married for 40 years. Milton preceded her in death in 1994. Phyllis married Dale Gruel in 2004 and he preceded her in death in 2013.
Her faith was very important to her, and Phyllis was a member of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bonduel, where she served as president of the Ladies Aid, church librarian and on the archive's committees. She loved to entertain family and friends at her home by baking, cooking and making her special buffet dinners. Phyllis enjoyed playing cards, listening to Danny O'donnel music, planting flowers, having family and friends in her midst and treating everyone as she would like to be treated. Phyllis enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri and Williamsburg, Virgina with classmates in 1995 and 2000.
Phyllis is survived by: step children, Connie (Peter) Martineau, Kathy (Steve) Hughes, Linda (Bill) Biese, Sr., Barb (Todd) Maves, Mari (David) Kriescher, David (Noreen) Gruel, and Rick (Joan) Gruel; step sister, Ellen Mehlberg; step brother, Delmar Zernicke; sisters in law, Judy Lemberg, Bette Becker, and Darlene Kittson; special granddaughter, Michelle (Mike) Marg; special nieces, Joan (Ivan) Meisner, Rachel (Lane) Wudstrack, and Tashia (Tom) Leisgang; special nephews, Wesley (Carol) Kupsky Jr, Richard (Nancy) Lemberg, and James (Joan) Lemberg; as well as 24 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; and 12 great-great grandchildren. She is further survived by many friends and loved ones.
She is preceded in death by: her parents; husbands; brother Roger Lemberg; sisters-in-law Lanada Kupsky, Mildred Hoffman, and Vera Pitt; brothers-in-law Roger Kittson, Clarence Hoffman, Earl Gruel, and Bernard Becker; step children, Jim and John Gruel; step son-in-law Steve Hughes; a grandson; and three great grandchildren.
A funeral service for Phyllis will be held at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bonduel on Saturday, April 27th at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30am until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to Friedens Ev. Lutheran Church in Bonduel.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Shawano Health Care Services and Nurse Tracy for the loving care.
I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve,
To dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done