Harla Jean Gruber, age 77 of Cozad, died May 3, 2011 at the Golden Living Care Center in Cozad after a courageous 10-month battle with cancer.  

Services will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Cozad with Pastor Elaine Besthorn officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery south of Cozad.   

Visitation will be held on Friday, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.   

Harla was born Feb. 9, 1934 at Lexington to Ed and Alma (Elliker) Kreitz. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1952. On Dec. 22, 1952, she married Doug Gruber. The couple made their home on the family farm south of Cozad where they lived the rest of their married lives together. Harla enjoyed playing bridge and was an avid reader; spending many great moments with her friends in bridge club and book club. Doug and Harla enjoyed music, traveling and spending summers at their home at Johnson Lake with family and friends.   

Survivors include her husband Doug Gruber of Cozad; two daughters, Marsha Feik of Cozad, Marla (Paul) Jorgensen of Kearney; four sisters, Alfaretta Clevenger of Lincoln, Marilyn Sutherland of Banning, Calif., Beverly Adle of Yorba Linda, Calif., Janet Bowman of Eldridge, Iowa; four grandchildren, Matt (Alison) Feik of Cozad, Marcy Feik of Cozad, D.J. O'Donnell of Lexington, Cody O'Donnell of Denver and three great-grandchildren, Madison, Bryant and Austin.    

She will be greatly missed by her dear friend Imogene St. John, plus many, many nieces, nephews and friends.   

Harla was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Alma; siblings, Emily, Claire, Dean, Howard, Gordon and Jerry and a son-in-law, Mike Feik.   

A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.