Ivars Robert VonGruzis of Grand Junction, Colorado, went home to be with the Lord on October 23, 2025, six days before his 84th birthday after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ivars was born on October 29, 1941, in Liepaja, Latvia to Robert and Lisa Gruzis. In the winter of 1943 he escaped Latvia with his grandparents. By the time he was six years old they arrived at a displaced persons camp in Germany, traveling on foot all that way. After three years in various displaced persons camps in Germany they were sponsored to the United States by Lester and Gwendolyn Fiedler of Osseo, Wisconsin.
Ivars attended school in Osseo, Wisconsin, Hastings, Minnesota and graduated from Prescott, Wisconsin High School in 1960. He spent time in the United States Army during the Berlin Crisis. After being discharged from the Army in 1964 he spent time in Lincoln, Nebraska. Later he returned to Prescott, Wisconsin, working various jobs around Prescott and the Twin City area. He married Sharon Sprick and in 1967 they welcomed daughter Michelle Marie. They later divorced.
He took pre-med classes at Hennepin County Community College. Thereafter he joined the U.S. Navy and became a corpsman. He worked with doctors at the Marine Corp Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, went on a Westpac Cruise. After serving his four years he was discharged. In 1982 he again entered the Navy and was stationed at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Spokane, Washington. In 1983 he married Kay Prigge Steffenhagen. He spent 13 months unaccompanied in Okinawa being the corpsman at one of the Marine brigs on the island. From Spokane the Navy moved the family to San Diego, California where he was discharged in 1988. His total military service comprised eighteen years. He and his wife Kay moved to Rochester, Minnesota. After ten years there they moved to New Hope, Minnesota. During that time he was an over-the-road semi driver having 1.5 million accident free miles. In 2018 they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado.
Ivars is survived by his “loving bride” Kay of 42 years, family Josephine (Josie) Knorr and Keith Steffenhagen. Granddaughter Gabrielle Ramirez (Logan McDonald) and grandson Devin (Emma) Steffenhagen. Also survived by brothers Ivars (Lilita) Gruzis and Zigmund Gruzis, sisters Mara and Inta and 17 nieces and their families. and the wonderful Fiedler family.
He was preceded in death by all his loving kitties, grandparents Ernest and Lena Aleckics, parents Robert Gruzis and Lisa Gruzis, and daughter Michelle Marie Ramirez. Sponsors to the United States Lester and Gwendolyhn Fiedler, Bruce, Florence and Ross Fiedler.
The funeral service was held on October 29 2025 (Ivars’ 84th birthday) at St Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Grand Junction, Colorado.
On November 22, 2025 at 11:00 (doors open at 10:00) there will be a memorial service at Old Ptacek’s Event Center, in Prescott, Wisconsin, with a with a catered meal after the service. Anyone who knew Ivars or his family are welcome to attend.
