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Knight and Family of the Year honored Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 01:21:11 pm MDT By ERIKA KIRSCH Western News Editor
A love of community is the common denominator in choosing the local Knights of Columbus Family of the Year and Knight of the Year. Libby’s Jeff and Doreen Gruber, married for 18 years, were chosen as the Knights of Columbus Family. Jeff has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 13 years and has held several positions within the brotherhood, including: two years as Grand Knight, three years as a Pro-life Couple, two years in Public Relations, one year as a Youth Director, he is also presently a Council Trustee and Council Program Director.In addition, Jeff is active in volunteer work for the Catholic Church, organizing the annual youth Christmas party, First Communion breakfasts and the Troy and Libby annual barbecue at Bull Lake, among several other volunteer activities. Jeff, his wife Doreen and their daughter Emma are also active in helping the Knights of Columbus council. Jeff and Doreen help to cook, serve and clean up meals at council events. The Grubers also provide food they purchase for special council events that the council provides to the church for breakfast, lunches and dinner. They are also very active members of the St. Joseph Parish. Both Jeff and Doreen are Eucharist ministers. The family attends mass on a regular basis and each take part during mass. In addition, Jeff is an usher during mass and serves as a pallbearer for deceased members of the church. The family has provided soup and rolls on Friday night during Lent. They have served as readers during stations of the cross. “The family are true Christians and true to the Catholic faith,” according to their nomination. Jeff has been a Libby High School teacher since 1993, teaching social science. He’s also been an assistant and head football coach for the Libby Loggers. Jeff has also been involved in the Libby Heritage Museum for several years. LHS Principal Rik Rewerts spoke of Jeff’s merits including his approachability. “Students and parents can discuss any problem and they know it will be handled professionally,” Rewerts wrote in a letter. “Jeff has an excellent overall view of education that, in turn, helps his students be successful not just in the classroom but also in life.” Jeff has also been chosen by the state of Montana to be an evaluator of a new Montana History textbook, Rewerts said. Jeff is also involved in the Montana Heritage program, through which Libby’s history and documentation have been preserved. In addition, Jeff has also been a part of discussing the Libby Superfund status with Libby’s sister city Minamata, Japan. He traveled to Japan to “learn first-hand how the city dealt with the huge industrial contamination issues and how it parallels with Libby’s involvement and improvement,” Rewerts wrote. Doreen has been a teacher in the Libby School District for 16 years, teaching in lower grades. Both Jeff and Doreen have been very active in the school programs and community affairs for several years. Bruce and Patti Jo Vincent of Provider Pals wrote a letter in praise for choosing the Gruber family. The Vincent’s wanted Doreen to teach their children when they were going through the school system. “She has a way with children that cannot be taught at Montana State,” the letter stated. “She connects at a level that makes children want to learn and leaves a life-long impression on their minds and on their hearts.” The Vincent’s also asked Doreen to be a part of the Provider Pals program, which brings together children from urban and rural areas to learn about their differences and work to understand their cultural differences. “During the summertime, she blesses us by taking time to teach at our summer camps when we bring students from all over the nation into Libby — and she works her magic on these 12 and 13-year-old young adults,” the letter read. Doreen has also been a Heritage Museum volunteer. She has been the coordinator of volunteer greeters and has helped on committees, including the Holiday Bazaar, according to James and Laurie Mari. The Gruber family were chosen as the 2008 Knights of Columbus Family of the Year for their willingness to help and their activeness in the church, community, youth they teach at school and the Knights of Columbus. “Jeff, Doreen and Emma are truly what family is all about,” said Knights of Columbus member Don Shaw. “Love for each other, love for their church, respect for others, helping others when possible, living a true Christian life.” Kevin Miller was chosen as the 2008 Knights of Columbus Knight of the Year. Miller has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 11 years. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 23 years and their son, Shay, 19, is attending his first year of college. As a Knights of Columbus member, Miller was a Grand Knight for two years, Council Treasurer, Council Pro-Life Couple, Council Program Director, Council Youth Director, Deputy-Grand Knight, Council Trustee, State of Montana Knights of Columbus Program Director 2006-2007, 2007-present, and Captain of the First Degree Team. Miller has devoted much of his time to volunteering. He’s been an organizer of vacation Bible school lunch, group leader for the youth Search program, reader during Stations of the Cross, provides soup and rolls on Friday night during lent, gun lock safety program, awards night and council recognition for brother Knights of Columbus members, first communion breakfast, annual youth Christmas party and during the annual Troy and Libby community barbecue he helps cook lunch and provides his boat for water skiing, tubing and boat rides. Additionally, he serves as honor guard with the 4th Degree, coached for two years in the little league T-ball program and was involved with the Libby soccer program for eight years. His wife also helped in this program for three years and served as president for one year. Miller has done construction projects at the church and removed heavy snow from the roofs at no charge. The Miller family has also participated in the annual Nordicfest fish boil dinner and the Swedish pancake breakfast fund raisers. “To know Kevin Miller, is to respect him and appreciate his high standards,” according to his nomination. “He is truly a devoted person to his faith.” Since joining the Knights of Columbus order he received his 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree. He has been recognized as the council Knight of the Year in 1999. The Miller family was selected as Family of the Year in 2001 and as Family of the Month in February 2007. “Kevin Miller is a take charge person and is well-respected by all that know or work with him,” wrote Shaw in a recommendation letter for Miller. “I know Kevin as a family man, loving and caring husband to his wife and father to his son. He is devoted and supportive to the Catholic Church and his strong faith. I have seen him give of his time without apprehension to help assist anyone in need.”
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The Western News
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