Pamela Dianne Gruver
October 22, 2017
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Service Details
Pamela Dianne Gruver, 60, Des Moines, IA finished her earthly journey on Sunday, October 22, 2017, and passed on to her eternal home. She was under the care of UnityPoint Home Hospice for cancer. Per Pamela’s wish, a private and simple gravesite service was held for the immediate family at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Ave. in Des Moines.
Pamela was born on December 7, 1956, as the eldest daughter of Paul and Mary (Henry) Gruver at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. Once graduating from Southeast Polk High School, she completed her nursing education at Marshalltown School of Nursing. Pamela had an ongoing concern for those who were less fortunate, frail, or forgotten. This led her to a variety of settings that included: ILH, Johnston’s Convalescent Home for Children, Woodward State Hospital and School, Spurgeon Manor, and UnityPoint Neuro Inpt Unit. For the past 27+ years, she nursed at UnityPoint NICU and considered herself privileged to work with the stellar staff there. Pamela immensely enjoyed this arena of specialty nursing.
Those who knew Pamela would describe her as private, compassionate, generous, and selfless. She was an accomplished pianist and used this talent for His purpose. She also had a deep appreciation for the arts, a wonderment of nature, and genuine respect of all people. Above all, she possessed an unfailing faith in her Heavenly Father, which was most evident throughout her cancer diagnosis.
Pamela was preceded in death by her father, Paul Gruver. She is survived by her mother, Mary Gruver; sisters, Kathy (Randy) Foster and Ramona (Milo Joe) Ferrari.
The family wishes to sincerely thank the following for their expertise and compassionate cares over this past year: Dr. Angela Sandre, Dr. Steven Elg and nurses, Kathy and Christina, Dr. Robert Isaak and nurse, Sue, Dr. Nordstrom and team, John Stoddard Cancer Center staff, UnityPoint Infusion Center, and UnityPoint Home Hospice. We also are eternally grateful for the wonderful care given to Pamela by her best friend, Deb Nelson.
Memorial contributions may be directed to: God’s Bible School and College, (Pamela D. Gruver Memorial Music Scholarship Fund), 1810 Young St., Cincinnati, OH 45202; Joshua Christian Academy, 1740 Garfield Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316, or the Animal Rescue League, 5452 NE 22nd St. Des Moines, IA 50313.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Karen walker colgrove
12/28/2017
I just heard of your loss. I am so sorry for the passing of your sister. My condolence and prayers are for the family. Miss you all.
Denise Johnson
10/29/2017
It's taken me this long to compose something sensible to say to you all, Pam's beloved family. I so loved working with Pam in the NICU. She was such a sweet and gentle soul who was so great to work with. She was truly the kind of nurse that I wish we could all be. She gave her best to each and every one of her patients, and to her coworkers as well. We had many, many long heart to heart talks over the many years we worked together in the NICU and I was always so happy to see her smile and hear her unmistakable laugh....I join all my NICU friends in saying how sad it makes me to know I will not see her face or hear that laugh again in this life, but, I look forward to a happy reunion in God's forever home. Thank goodness that her pain and suffering have ended here and that she is resting in the loving arms of our Lord for all eternity. I am so sorry for your loss.
Connie W
10/29/2017
I had the honor & joy of knowing this warm and loving lady. God has a new wonderful angel in the heavens. Her warmth & love for all of her family and friends was cherished. There is a new star in the heavens to look down on us! May God Bless your family with comfort and love during this time.
Kala
10/25/2017
Pam, you were 1 in a million! It was such a pleasure to learn from you and work beside you. Rest in peace sweet soul!
Christine Haun
10/25/2017
So sorry to hear of Pam's passing. I worked with Pam in the NICU for many years. I always enjoyed giving her shift report as she paid attention and was truly concerned for the care and treatment of the babies. She would go out of her way to make sure their needs were being met. She was also so kind and caring to the families. She will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Brett, Megan and Aidan Shady
10/24/2017
Pam was one of our nurses when our son was in the NICU last year and there was no one else I would have wanted taking care of him. We enjoyed chatting with her and she was so caring and gentle with our tiny, little guy. She will truly be missed.
Chris Eckardt
10/23/2017
I will miss you my dear dear friend!
Amy and KC Coleman
10/23/2017
Pam cared for our oldest daughter while she lived in the NICU for the first few months of her life. It was the hardest thing we had ever been through, but somehow Pam brought us peace in that tough time and was always reminding us to take care of ourselves. She gave our daughter her first bath and sweetly label her Vaseline as Pennys lipgloss. There is no doubt in our mind that she was an angel among us. She will be greatly missed.
Jessica Vasey
10/23/2017
I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Pam. She truly was such a wonderful person. So caring, compassionate, hard working, and had such a beautiful heart! I will miss our conversations and most of all her laugh- something I would love to have heard just one more time! Glad to know she's no longer in pain and now in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. She will be so absolutely, truly missed in the nicu!!
Kathy McElree
10/23/2017
I am so sorry to hear that Pam is gone. I had the pleasure to work with Pam in the NICU. She always had a willing and helpful heart. She loved the babies and her work. I will always remember her smile. She will be missed.
Alene Kirvin
10/23/2017
I was so sad to hear that Pam had cancer and that she had passed away. I worked with Pam in the NICU for years and I just loved her laugh and when she would try not to smile...even when I tried so hard to be funny. :) She was an absolutely beautiful human being and her love for people showed through everything she did. She will be very much missed.
Cheryl Greve
10/23/2017
I am so saddened to hear this. I oriented Pam to the nursery at ILH when she first started over there! My condolences to her family.
Brian Gogerty
10/23/2017
I am truly shocked and saddened to hear the news of Pams passing. I worked with her at Iowa Methodist for 24 years. She was a good friend and great nurse. Thoughts and prayers are with her family. She will be greatly missed.
Carolyn Verba-Ortega
10/23/2017
To my friend Pam's family. I've had the privelidge of working with Pam for more years than I can remember.She was a very private person, but we had times of joyful laughter about different conversations and topics. She was passionate about caring for our little fragile patients and their families.... She laughed at funny topics we would talk about.so much that she had tears in her eyes.....she loved hearing about my growing son, and things that happened in our lives.
We had many conversations about flowers in our yards and the many different types of projects.
I know she was a very private person and didn't want us to see her vulnerability in her illness.she chose to deal with her illness without our NICU support, which was hard for us to except, but we knew Pam and that this is just how she wanted it.
I will miss her as many of our staff will. I know she is at peace having her heavenly father by her perfect not in pain body... she will be missed... my heart aches for your family... gone too soon , too young.
Sincerely Carolyn Verba-Ortega RN . A good friend of pam's.
Barb Smith
10/23/2017
I am truly saddened by this great loss. Pam was extremely private and even though I have worked with her for the past 27 years I was truly unaware of how serious her condition was. She had asked that things be left personal and that's the way it was. No one talked about it we just knew she was sick but I am truly sorry to know how sick she really was. Fly high Pam and be pain free. You made a huge impact in the NICU world and will forever be remembered