Frank Manfred Gruber

In Loving Memory
Frank Manfred Gruber
August 27, 1948 – July 7, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Frank Gruber has passed away peacefully at Victoria General Hospital in the early hours of July 7th at the age of 76. His sharp sense of humour along with a deep and infectious laugh left an impression on all those he knew.
Frank was born in a small town near Hamburg Germany to parents Hans & Melita Gruber. At a young age he immigrated to Canada along with his parents and siblings Fred, Frieda, Rolf, Helmut & Erika. Their family settled in Central Saanich and started a farm on the land that is now home to the Saanich Fairgrounds. Frank developed a fondness for his adopted land and lived on the Saanich peninsula for nearly 70 years.

As a young man Frank fell in love with a pretty girl that was working picking berries on his family farm, he picked her and then Frank & Christine were married in 1969. Together they put down their own roots in the community and raised their four children; Laura, Sherry, Debbie and Matthew.
Frank was an ambitious and driven businessman, he founded his own construction company and through his hard work and dedication he built hundreds of houses, townhouses, and condominiums on the Saanich Peninsula and the South Island region. Over the course of a distinguished career, he earned not only accolades and respect, but lasting friendships. Those who worked with him would respect his honesty and integrity and enjoy his wry jokes and intentionally misquoted song lyrics on the jobsite. He was a man that would accept someone’s handshake and their word as a solid deal because when he gave his own, he lived up to it.

His larger-than-life personality left a lasting impression on those around him, he effortlessly made lifelong friends in business, sports and the community in general. He was a regular fixture each year at the Centennial Day softball tournament, pitching for his own team or whichever team may have needed a pitcher with a comically large sun hat that day. Soaking in the companionship of friends and family on sunny afternoons, telling a joke, enjoying a drink and letting out his trademark bellowing laugh is where his giant persona shone the brightest, and is how those who were the closest to him will most fondly remember their joyous times with him.

Frank was one of a kind who lived life on his own terms, through his intelligence and determination he was a success in business, through his laughter and wit he made lifelong friends, through his dedication to family he raised four children who provided him nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren, all of which are grateful to have had his guidance in their lives. His large family was a source of happiness and pride for him, they will all miss his jokes at holiday gatherings, fun times on family vacations and playing bean bags on ‘Sunday Fundays’.
He is survived by two siblings, Helmut (Barb) and Erika, and leaves his three daughters, Laura (Alasdair), Sherry, Debbie and son Matthew (Amy), to carry on loving his nine grandchildren, Alexa & Christian (Hannah), Sara & Ryan, Taylor (Sam) & Jordyn (Travis) & Jessy, Elsa & Joseph and five great grandchildren, Erich & Violet, Westley & Hannah, and Luke. All of whom, mourn his passing.
A celebration of life will be held on July 26, 2025, at 3:00pm at the Saanich Fairgrounds in the Cedar Room. All who wish to attend are welcome, please come and share your memories and stories of Frank.

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