Wanda Gruis, 98, of Rudd

Wanda Gruis, 98, of Rudd, passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Nora Springs Care Center in Nora Springs.

A funeral service for Wanda Gruis will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2026, at Rock Creek Lutheran Church in rural Osage, Iowa with Pastor Joel Nye officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Rudd, Iowa.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Monday.

Wanda Lee (Francis) Gruis was born July 17, 1927, in Carroll, Nebraska to Clifford John and Meta (Otte) Francis. She attended rural school in Wayne County, Nebraska through the 6^th grade. In 1940 the family moved to a farm by Nora Springs, Iowa. There Wanda attended rural school #62 by Nora Springs through the 8^th grade. The family then moved to a farm east of Rockford in 1942. Wanda attended and graduated from Rockford High School in 1945. She was one of the last classes taking Normal Training during high school. She received her Normal Training Teacher’s Certificate in July 1945 when she was 18 years old since that was the requirement at the time. The rural schools in Floyd County were all taken so she found a rural school in Butler County. She taught just one year at the Bear Grove School near Kesley, Iowa. From the fall of 1945 to the spring of 1953, she taught for seven years in the rural schools of Floyd County. In the fall of 1953, she began teaching in Rudd. The first year was a 3^rd grade class and the next year a combination of 4^th and 6^th grade. From 1955 though 1975 she taught 1^st grade in the Rudd, Rockford, Marble Rock (RRMR) school district. While teaching she served on different school-related boards. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association.

On August 17, 1947, she was united in marriage to Earl “Pete” Gruis at the Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford. She became a member of Zion Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school until 1955. The first five years of their married life they lived in Rockford. Pete was an instructor at the then Oliver Plant in Charles City and Wanda taught school. In 1953 she and Pete moved to a farm east of Rockford and started farming. They lived there for two years before moving to a farm east of Rudd which they later purchased. They worked side by side taking care of pigs, sheep, calves and chickens. Wanda continued teaching during this whole time.

Pete and Wanda both joined the Rock Creek Lutheran Church at Meroa, Iowa. Wanda served on the Board of Directors and the Altar Guild. She chose to be an inactive member of the circle but was always willing to help and serve.

In 1964 Wanda opened the ceramics shop known as Gruis’ Open Gate. She taught ceramic classes until 1990. The gift shop has been carried on with ceramic products and wooden items made by her late husband, Pete. Everyone knew Wanda for the thousands of Easter eggs she made. She told the youngsters she worked for the Easter Rabbit.

Wanda served four three-year terms on the RRMR Board of Education, five of those years she served as President. Wanda spent many hours doing all sorts of things for children in the school district. Her love was always with the younger generation. These children were the biggest joy for her. To this day she has contact with many of her former students. She and her husband had no family of their own, but they gave great love to everyone else’s children. She and her husband were very supportive of the local RRMR schools, FFA and the Floyd County Fair. They took into their home for one year an exchange student from Geelong, Australia, Robin Parsons.

Besides her love for children and all the school activities, she and her husband found time to attend Polka dances and Polka fests all over. They loved to dance and made many friends. Polka friends, Dave and Lois Melgaard, and many other Polka friends were very important to them. Wanda was a great cook and her talent for baking was shared with so many others. Whenever you stopped at their home, there were always some kind of goodies that would be shared. Special treats were taken to friends at the holidays. Wanda and Pete were proud of their home and farm. They worked together and were very hard together. After Pete passed away, Mike Staudt, a close neighbor and friend, was a daily contact to Wanda and was always there for her. She appreciated his visits and conversations daily and all that he did for her.

Wanda is survived by one nephew, Dennis Davisson and his family; Mike Staudt and family meant a lot to her as they treated her like family; Rick and Pat Laudner and families were extra special great-nephews of Pete. Wanda never met a stranger, she was blessed with so many, many beautiful friends.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and best friend, Pete, on January 12, 2007; an infant brother, Ned; sister, Myra and husband Verl Davisson; and two nephews: Ray and Keith Davisson.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements.  Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.