Catholic Saskatoon News
Fr. George Gruber, OMI died July 5, 2026 at Samaritan Place, Saskatoon.
The funeral for Fr. George Gruber, OMI, will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at St. Philip Neri Parish, 1902 Munroe Avenue S., Saskatoon, SK. The interment will take place at St. Charles Oblate cemetery at The Ridge, in Battleford, SK at 1:30 p.m. July 15.
George Gruber was born May 26, 1933, in Leipzig, SK to Barbara (Ruider) and Frank Gruber, Sr.
After attending school in Leipzig, he went to St. Thomas College in North Battleford, SK. In 1951, he joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a novice, in St. Norbert, MB, professing his first vows on Sept. 8, 1952. His next years were spent at St. Charles Scholasticate in Battleford, where he professed his perpetual vows on Sept. 8, 1955.
He was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 18, 1957, as a member of St. Mary’s Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Fr. Gruber received a Bachelor of Education degree in 1967 and a Diploma in Educational Psychology and Counselling in 1971.
After receiving his education degree, he taught high school: first in Fairview, AB, and then in Red Deer, AB, where he was both teacher and guidance counsellor. In 1975, Gruber moved to Medicine Hat, where he was pastor at the parish in Schuler, and associate pastor in Medicine Hat.
For the next 25 years, Gruber ministered at many other parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
He greatly valued education, serving on an ad-hoc committee for teaching religious education in high schools, and continuing his own education by studying scripture, canon law, and theology.
Gruber prided himself on keeping up with the latest scholarship in scripture, saying “my homilies need to reflect that.” As a pastor, he was recognized for his dogged sense of duty, the quality of his homilies, his fairness to all and his sympathy for those with special needs. He enjoyed sports, particularly baseball.
In recent years, he endured some major health issues, including losing much of his eyesight and hearing. In 2001, Gruber moved to Mazenod Residence in Saskatoon to live with other brothers and priests, in community, faithful to his Oblate life and priesthood. He later moved to Samaritan Place in Saskatoon.
On his 85th birthday, the 60th anniversary of his ordination, Fr. George Gruber said to one of his brother Oblates: “I’ve been a priest now for 60 years, and it wasn’t always easy. I had my struggles. But looking at it all, I am pretty happy with the way my life turned out.”
He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Barbara Gruber; his sisters Hilda Ulrich and Rita Merkowsky and his brother Joseph Gruber. He was also predeceased by his brother-in-law Donald Ulrich and his sister-in-law, Johanna Gruber, a nephew, Gerald Gruber and a nephew-in-law, Alan McCormac.
He is survived by his brother, Frank Gruber, brother-in-law, Allan Merkowsky, and sister-in-law, Muriel Gruber. He will also be fondly remembered as an uncle, great-uncle and great-great-uncle by 19 nieces and nephews, along with their spouses, their children and their grandchildren. He is also survived by his religious community, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, OMI Lacombe Canada and their Associates.
-30-