Ruby Jean Grudzinski

1945 - 2021

CENTRAL CITY - Ruby Jean Grudzinski, 75, of Central City died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Life Center of Elkhorn.
A celebration of life visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 20, at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Memorials are suggested to the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Ruby Jean was born March 21, 1945, to Clara Sharpe in Milford. Ruby grew up in St. Louis. Ruby married Leonard Victor Grudzinski in Kearney on Sept. 28, 1963. When she and Leonard were first married, they lived in Kearney, until moving to Grand Island. They then would make their home in Central City, where they remained most of their married life. They would move to Columbia, S.C., for a while when Ruby worked at Fort Jackson military base. They then decided that Central City was their home and they decided to move back and raise their daughter in their hometown.
In her early years, Ruby was a stay-at-home mother, raising her children until she got a job at Kate's Root Beer as well as working as a cook at Merrick Manor in Central City. She then found her passion for cooking for others. She was also a flagger for Knight Brothers Construction in the summer when they needed help. She later got a full-time job cooking at Lincoln Manor Steakhouse. She then decided to go back to school and earn her GED. Then she decided to get her associate degree at Central Community College in Hastings for culinary arts, and finally received her bachelor's degree from Bellevue University in human resources. She then worked at Central Community College in Grand Island, where she was the manager of food services for 12 years. Leonard and Ruby would remain married for over 53 years until his death.
While living in Central City, she was very active in her community, baking, sewing and helping in her church. She made many wedding, birthday and graduation cakes for members of the community. She always said she didn't like to argue, but for most of her family they knew that wasn't the case. Most of the time they would let her say her piece, and move on with life. She always had an opinion and whether you liked it or not, she would let you know.
She was a member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Central City, as well as the Altar Society, Quilting Guild and a Den Mother for Cub Scouts.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Tim (Cassandra) Gurdzinski of Dacono, Colo., Adam (Teresa) Grudzinski of Gretna, Katie (Josh) Sharpe of Meade and Connie (Glen) Leckband of Rochester, Minn.; and her grandchildren, Grady Grudzinski, Hailey Grudzinski, Ethan Grudzinski and Caleb Grudzinski, Jarrett Sharpe, Heather Kveene, Laura Verbout-Kveene, David Kveene, and Christian Leckband.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; son, Joel; and mother Clara Wick.