Joseph Anthony Fruth

May 8, 1923 – January 4, 2015

Joseph A. Fruth was born May 8, 1923 in Mower County, Minnesota to Anton J. Fruth and Olive Davis Fruth. He was raised on farms near Rose Creek and Grand Meadow Minnesota and graduated from Grand Meadow High School.

Joe enlisted for service in December 1942 and served in the U.S. Marines during WW II. He attended the US Naval Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and was attached to the Marine Transport Air Unit in the South Pacific. After his discharge in 1945, Joe went to work for Stier Wholesale Grocery. It was there that he met and worked with Bonny J. Blanchard, who he married on April 17, 1948 at St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. Joe and Bonny raised a family of three sons, John Fruth, (wife Carol, and children Kate and Nick) of Boulder; Jerry Fruth (wife Kim) of Lamar; Jeff Fruth, (wife Annemarie and children Laura and Paul) of Nederland.

In 1956, Joe went to work for IBM in Rochester, Minnesota. He recieved training from IBM in industrial engineering and transferred to Boulder in 1965 where he worked in facilities planning until his retirement in 1987. In his retirement, Joe enjoyed gardening, traveling and helping his family

Joe and Bonny lived for many years in south Boulder below the flatirons. In 1999, they moved to a new home in Lafayette near Waneka Lake. Joe dearly loved his family and spending time with them, especially his grandchildren. During his time living in Lafayette, he treated all the neighborhood children as his grandchildren also. Joe and Bonny reached out to many others during their life together and had a large extended family.

Joe and Bonny were members of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Boulder. Joe volunteered there on the finance commitee and on other commitees. They had a large community of friends connected with their church life.

Joe is survived by his wife of Boulder and also his sons and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers.

Joe’s family will deeply miss his presence. We are very appreciative of the special care Joe received, in the final months of his life, at Sunrise of Boulder in the memory care unit.

A service will be held on Saturday, January 17, at 10:30 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center, 898 14th Street, Boulder, CO.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Harvest of Hope Pantry, supported by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 2960 Valmont Rd., Boulder 80301, or online at harvestofhopepantry.org.