Sheila Fay Gruber (born Sheila Fay Johnson) was born July 22, 1957 in Manistee, Michigan to Arthur and Deloras Johnson.

Sheila grew up in the Onekema/Manistee area, graduating from Manistee High School in 1975.

Sheila married John Robert Gruber April 25, 1981 in Pasadena, Texas. Together they moved around the country while raising three children (Jeremy, Jennifer and John) before settling back in her home city of Manistee, where a fourth child (Meghan) was born later in life. After a brief stint in Alaska, the family moved to Ottumwa, Iowa in 2011 until John's death in 2014.

After the graduation of her youngest child, Sheila returned to Michigan to live for the rest of her days. She spent her time crocheting or doing diamond art.

Sheila loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren's extracurricular activities including marching band performances, choir concerts, school plays, and high school varsity football.

Sheila enjoyed traveling. In recent years, Sheila traveled with family to Las Vegas, Nevada, Nashville, Tennessee, and Savannah, Georgia. She visited family in Alabama and Tennessee, and most recently, she traveled to Barrow, Alaska to watch her grandson play high school football at the northernmost community in the United States.

Sheila loved animals. She enjoyed spending time with her daughter Meghan volunteering at Repo's Rescues or playing with Meghan's dogs. She posted pictures online of her "granddogs" Henry, Cashew, Duke, and Tao and her "grandkitties” Oliver, Romeo, and Milo.

Sheila was preceded in death by her husband John (Bob) Gruber, her parents Arthur L and Deloras Johnson, her brother Arthur A Johnson, sister-in-law Sandra Johnson, and sister-in-law Elaine Lenz.

Sheila is survived by children Jeremy Johnson, Jennifer (Mike) Blair, John (Lina) Gruber; grandchildren Jordan, Brittany, Alexander, Shae, Courtni, MacKenzie, Jackson, Lily, Harper, and Darrin; and one great-grandson Emmett. She also leaves behind sister Joycelyn (Paul) Deacons, brother Roger Johnson, brother Gary Johnson, and sister-in-law Alice Johnson, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manistee. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time of services at the funeral home.

Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

www.oakgrovefh.com