Leonard Gruss and Genevieve Butler's Family

Leonard Jacob Gruss, son of Henry, was born on July 23, 1910 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He died on February 12, 1980 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was buried on February 15, 1980 in North Shore Memory Garden at Hagar Shore, Michigan. He was a machinist by profession having worked for thirty-seven years (September 22, 1938 to February 28, 1975) at New Products Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Leonard completed only eight years of schooling and worked as a farmhand prior to starting his career as a machinist.

Leonard married on June 18, 1938 at Benton Harbor, Michigan to Bertha Genevieve Butler, daughter of Harry Leroy Butler and Celia Gleason. The witnesses to their marriage were Edward Michael Gruss and Elizabeth Gruss. Genevieve, as she was known, was born on July 29, 1919 at Ravenna, Nebraska. She died on September 8, 1985 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. She was buried on September 11, 1985 in North Shore Memory Garden at Hagar Shore, Michigan. Genevieve worked for fifteen years in the cafeteria at Lake Michigan Catholic Middle School.

Leonard and Genevieve purchased their home at 1119 Broadway in Benton Harbor, Michigan in December of 1945. The property was described as

"Lot Four (4), Block "B" of Potes Addition to the Village, now City, of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan."

Leonard and Genevieve had four children.

1. Mary Cecelia Gruss was born March 26, 1939 at St. Joseph, Michigan. She died on February 28, 2003 at Allendale, Michigan. Mary was employed by Modern Plastics Corporation in Coloma, Michigan for many years. She was buried on March 7, 2003 in North Shore Memory Gardens after being cremated.
2. Harry LeRoy Gruss was born at St. Joseph, Michigan.
3. Alma Louise Gruss was born on August 19, 1945 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. She died on July 25, 1971 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
4. George Leonard Gruss was born at Benton Harbor, Michigan. George is a machinist by profession working for New Products Corp. in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

   George married on June 8, 1984 at St. Joseph, Michigan to Valorie DeHaan Barr, daughter of William DeHaan and Lillian Hostetler. They were divorced on June 22,1993. Valorie was born on April 16, 1952 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. She died on March 6, 2002 at South Haven, Michigan

Sources

1. Land Records for Berrien County, Michigan at St. Joseph, Michigan. (Liber 1299, Pg. 449 and Mortgage Liber 283, Pg. 21)
2. Probate Records for Bertha Genevieve Gruss, nee Butler.
3. Birth Records for Berrien County, Michigan at St. Joseph, Michigan. (Vol. F, entry 315)
4. Birth Certificate for Leonard Jacob Gruss, Bertha Genevieve Butler, Mary Cecelia Gruss and Harry LeRoy Gruss.
5. Death Certificate for Leonard Jacob Gruss and Bertha Genevieve Gruss, nee Butler.
6. Records of and tombstones at North Shore Memory Garden at Hagar Shore, Michigan.
7. Obituaries for Leonard Jacob Gruss, Genevieve Gruss, nee Butler, Mary Gruss, and Alma Rothrock, nee Gruss.
8. Records of Florian's Funeral Home at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
9. Baptismal Certificate for Bertha Genevieve Butler.
10. Marriage License for Leonard Jacob Gruss and Bertha Genevieve Butler.
11. Catholic Church marriage certificate for Leonard Jacob Gruss and Genevieve Butler.
12. Benton Harbor city directories for the years 1933, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1950, 1969-70 and 1975.
13. Employment records of New Products Corporation at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
14. Abstract of the property at 1119 Broadway, Benton Harbor, Michigan.
15. Warranty Deed for sale of property at 1119 Broadway.
16. 1920 U.S. Federal Census for, Bainbridge Township, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 1B, SD 4, ED 68, Dwelling 19, Family 20.
17. 1920 U.S. Federal Census for, Ravenna, Buffalo, Nebraska, Sheet 10A, SD 6, ED 41, Dwelling 205, Family 216.
18. 1930 U.S. Federal Census for, Bainbridge Township, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 4B, SD 12, ED 11-1, Dwelling 76, Family 77.
19. 1930 U.S. Federal Census for, Benton Harbor, Ward 3, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 27B, SD 12, ED 11-18, Dwelling 673, Family 731.

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