Arnold Donald Gruys

Arnold "Arnie" Gruys, age 92, of Annandale, died Thursday, December 17, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital due to complications from being infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2021 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Annandale with Rev. David Nelson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Interment with military honors will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls. The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website. Memorials preferred to the charity of your choice, True Friends, or the St. John's Lutheran Foundation.

Arnold Donald Gruys was born on May 1, 1928, the youngest of four children of Herman and Dorothy (Vandergon) Gruys. Arnie grew up on the farm in Silver Creek Township, attended the county school, District 16, ½ mile from the homestead. He graduated from Annandale High School in 1946. September of that same year found him in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Bragg, he was stationed in Southern Japan as part of the US Occupational Force. He achieved the rank of Sergeant before his honorable discharge in July of 1948. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in June of 1951 with a degree in Business Administration-Accounting. After receiving his CPA certificate and license, he purchased the public accounting practice of his brother-in-law, Kermit Lundeen; he operated the practice as senior partner of Gruys, Borden, Carlson & Associates, Inc. Arnie continued to serve clients in his retirement for many years after transferring ownership to partners, Rick Borden and Bob Carlson.

During his lifetime he served his community, his profession, his state, and his country actively. He was a lifelong member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Minnesota Society of CPAs. He served as a board member and officer of the Minnesota Society as well as in many of the society's professional committees. Arnie served as an active board member and officer in Kiwanis and Lions Club International in Annandale, as well as the Annandale Chamber of Commerce. He was especially appreciative of having the opportunity to serve on the board of Camp Friendship, now True Friends, and to see it grow from a camp on the shores of Clearwater Lake near Annandale, to include camps on Cedar Lake in Maple Lake, Camp George in Lake George and Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie. These camps serve individuals with diverse disbilities. Arnie really enjoyed the outdoors and north woods, hence it was natural for him to be an advisory member of Camp Menogyn in the BWCA of the Minneapolis YMCA. Arnie was elected to the MN House of Representatives in 1966 and served two terms before retiring from the state legislature.

Arnie's personal life revolved around his family and church. Arnie met Ruth Ostergren in 1948 and they were married by her father, Rev. James Ostergren, in December of 1950. They were fortunate to spend over 69 years together. Four children blessed their household along with a wonderful supply of grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were the real love of his life and he often expressed how fortunate he was to have a loving family. He was also grateful to have been raised by parents who taught and showed him about the love of Christ. Arnie would show his acquaintances that love, which led him to be an active board member and officer at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater and St. John's Lutheran Church in Annandale.

Arnie is survived by his wife, Ruth of Annandale; children, Douglas of Bloomington, Kenneth (Julie) of Truckee, CA and Bruce (Denise) of Maple Grove; grandchildren, David, Natalie, Matt, Britt, Holly, Kjerstin, Hanna, Peter, Gabby and Nina; great grandchildren, Eli, Noah, Carol, Jerry, Oskar and Sylvan; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Carol Miller; and sisters and brother, Evelyn, Robert and Margaret.
 

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