Anna K. "Toy" Gruber, 69, a resident of Sheboygan Progressive Care Center, died there Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Born April 5, 1943, in Rayong Thailand, Anna was a daughter of Lomyong Tavonrate and Tiwa Bunyathai. Toy came to the United States with David Olsen in 1965. She and David were married shortly upon their arrival in the United States and were married for 12 years. Toy became a citizen of the United States in 1971. When Toy met Fred Gruber it was a match made in heaven and they were inseparable. They were married in 1981 and never left each others side. On January 12, 2011, Fred preceded her in death. Toy enjoyed good friends and good food. She was actively involved with the Sheboygan Elks Lodge # 299 in Sheboygan along with her husband. Together, Toy and Fred started the C.P. Picnic as a fund raiser for Cerebral Palsy and later started the Oriental Brunch which was another popular fundraiser. She owned and operated Toy's Ethnic Grocery Store on 8th street for many years. She loved to share her passion for great food with her customers and friends. Toy loved to cook and shared many of her recipes through her infamous cooking classes. Toy met so many wonderful people through her store and cooking classes. Family was very important to Toy and she helped her family in Thailand as well as visited them frequently. Toy enjoyed bowling, her friends at the Elk's Club and trips with Fred to Las Vegas and Thailand. Toy Gruber is survived by her 2 sons; Tom (Elizabeth) Olsen, of La Crosse, WI, and their children, Cody, Jacob, Daniel; and Mark (Ann-Marie) Olsen of Stoughton, WI, and their children Evelyn and Madeline. She is further survived by her siblings, Lamyong Ar-rom, Prayoon Thavornrat, Renu Sukato, Anan Kotcharin, Wanna Rattanajarit, Arissara Bunnak, Naris Kotcharin, Worapong Kotcharin, Ladda Jamrassaeng, Chuensuk Arsaithamkul and Pam Wilson, her sister in law & care giver. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2012 at the Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, 1132 Superior Ave. Relatives and friends are welcome at the funeral home on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the Service. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery.
