Calvin Gruver

Dr. Calvin DeWitt Gruver, Two Harbors, died peacefully on March 11, 2018, at Chris Jensen Home in Duluth. He was born March 3, 1929 in Mora, and graduated from Mora High School. After working in his father’s lumberyard in Two Harbors for a few years, Cal began his education at the Univ. of MN. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and began basic training. While at Ft. Leonard Wood the Korean War ended, so he was sent to Germany for two years. He became interested in German History at that time, and after his discharge he used the GI bill to return to UM and graduated with BA and MA degrees in history. He also attended the University of Kansas, for another MA degree in 1963, and then finished his Doctorate at the University of North Dakota in 1984, Cal started teaching History at St. Cloud State University in 1967. He received scholarships to study at universities in Berlin and Tubingen, and during his time at St. Cloud State, he directed a study-abroad program in Ingolstadt, Bavaria three times. He made regular trips to Germany after that to visit many friends there.

Cal retired from SCSU in 1991, and then devoted much of his time to his hobby of breeding and showing Boxer Dogs. He traveled to many Boxer shows around the country, whelped many puppies, and produced several AKC and Canadian Champions.

He organized the North Woods Boxer Club, and with his wife, edited a newsletter called “Boxer Shorts.” In 1993, he joined the American Boxer Club, served on its Board of Directors and became a life member in 2018. He received several awards, including the Good Sportsman Award in 2000. He was on the ABC Board of Directors for 6 years. He also was a board member for the American Charitable Foundation for Boxer Health. He translated and published a German book about the origins of the breed, called “My Life with Boxers.” The book was used as a premium for the ABCF’s fundraising efforts.

Cal and his wife moved to Two Harbors in 2001 and built a home on a hill overlooking the Harbor. He loved to watch the boats coming in. He was an outdoorsman who hunted, fished, and canoed the Boundary Waters. He also loved reading, watching sports, researching his family history and opera.

To his family, friends, and colleagues he was a trustworthy, generous, humble man. He had many friends, and especially enjoyed morning coffee, and Friday night suppers, with them all. His children always admired the winding path of his life that had led him to know a little about everything from car repair to lumberjack camps, to geology, to learning computers, and reading history and dog books.

Cal was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford D. Gruver and Lucille (Bashore), sister, Lucille (Millie) Nikodym, brother, James and first wife Terrance Krause. He is survived by his wife, Meredith Medler, and his children Cyle (Jan Waller) and Mary, and many nieces and nephews.

The family wants to thank Cal’s doctors, Chris Jensen Home, and St. Luke’s Hospice for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to The American Boxer Charitable Foundation and St. Luke’s Hospice would be welcomed.

Visitation will be from 10 AM until the 11 AM service on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Two Harbors, followed by military honors.