Florence "Jane" Gruen's Obituary
Florence “Jane” Stukey Gruen went to be with the Lord on October 22, 2023 in her home at Spring Arbor at the age of 91.
Jane was born on April 9, 1932. As the daughter of a Methodist minister, Jane learned to love music from an early age, playing piano for her church or accompanying her brother Gene as he sang. Through music, she met her husband Robert--a handsome German immigrant--while playing trombone for her high school band at the dedication for the St. Louis Arch. The sweethearts were married on September 7, 1951 and traveled the world together as Robert was transferred to different Army duty stations. In that time, Jane was known primarily as “Mama,” raising her three beautiful children David, Barbara, and Kathleen, while also earning her degree in organ from the University of Alabama and working as a church organist and private piano teacher. In her final years, even while afflicted with dementia, Jane’s love for music and Jesus were undiminished. She could regularly be found singing hymns along with live or virtual singers, as well as reading her Bible and devotionals. She would weep when something she heard touched her, and she would light up a room with her smile when Jesus or music were mentioned.
Jane would like you to know that she has not passed from life to death, but from life to life again. She is happily reunited with loved ones who passed on before her, and she is eagerly awaiting a reunion with those she has left behind. She is now singing, worshiping, and enjoying life with Jesus in her beautiful, glorified body. She would want those who loved her to celebrate her mission here, which has now been completed. Through her prayers, love, and Godly lifestyle, she influenced all of her children to come to faith in Jesus. The prayers of a righteous woman availeth much. She will be missed.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Henry Lawton Stukey and Melva Stukey; her son, David Ray Gruen; her mother-in-law, Gertrude Walker; her father-in law, Karl Gruen; her brothers-in-law, Gerry Gruen and Henry Gruen; her sister-in-law, Eleanor Rosenblum; and her nephew, Stanley Gruen.
Jane is survived by her husband, Robert W. Gruen; her daughters, Barbara Wilks and Kathleen Gruen; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Gruen; her grandchildren, Meg and Hollis Pultz, Daune and Jon Hyams, Janelle and Mark Huffman; her great grandchildren, Hannelore Pultz, Dana Pultz, Jasper Hyams, Raquel and Anthony Brown, Joele Davenport, and Gage Davenport; her great great grandchildren, Benjamin Brown and Bailey Brown; her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Carol Stukey (and their descendants); her sister-in-law, Bea Gruen; her nephews and nieces, Al and Debbie Gruen (and their descendants) and Doug and Jane Gruen (and their descendants).
Services will be held at Round Hill Baptist Church in King George, Virginia on November 16, 2023 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, we ask that friends and family make a donation to InCommunity, the organization that has cared for their daughter, Kathleen, for many years. Follow the link below to make a contribution and please be sure to include Jane's name as the honoree.
https://secure.everyaction.com/cQzLXG2ufkqr5Di6l6eVIw2
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