Michael W Gruber
Lyons - Michael William Gruber, 53, was born March 2, 1973, in Rochester, New York. William (Bill) and Linda Gruber adopted him and raised him as their first child. After a few years, they decided to make Michael a big brother and adopted his sister, Vicki. He was the big brother, always by her side.
When Michael was growing up, he loved to be an outdoors person, whether it was just hanging outside, being able to go and watch his dad race cars on the weekends, riding snowmobiles, or playing video games. Michael had a sledding accident on February 9, 1986, permanently changing his way of life as he knew it. After his accident and long recovery, Michael went to school at the Marcus Whitman High School in Rushville, graduating in 1994. Michael became a resident of Wayne County Nursing Home in 2010. With all that he had been through, Michael never lost his sense of humor. "Oh Boy" was his favorite word.
Michael passed Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Rochester General Hospital. He is walking those streets of gold with his Heavenly Father and those that have predeceased him: his parents, William and Linda Gruber; grandparents, Gerald and Rena Stickles; grandmother, Doris Blowers.
Michael is survived by his sister, Vicki (Mike) Atkachonis, Waterloo, New York; aunt, Lonna Jesse (Fred Plimpton); and several nieces and nephews.
The family will greet friends from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Norman L. Waterman Funeral Home, 124 West Miller Street, Newark, New York, 14513. Memorial service will follow the greeting at the funeral home. All are invited to Michael's Celebration of Life following the services on May 30, 2026, at 363 Bloom Road, Newark, NY 14513. Private burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House in care of the funeral home. You may write a memory or condolence to the family by visiting www.watermanfuneralhome.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael W. Gruber, please visit our floral store.