Biography

SHERBURN: A Celebration of Life Service for Mary Groskreutz, 89, of Sherburn, Minnesota, will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sherburn, Minnesota with Rev. Steven D. Wilson officiating. Burial will be in the
Sherburn Cemetery in Sherburn, Minnesota.

Mary died on Friday afternoon, March 12, 2010, at the Trimont Health Care Center, Trimont, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Monday at the Kramer Funeral Home, Sherburn, Minnesota and one hour prior to the service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn. Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com

Mary Ruth Stedman was born on September 12, 1920 to Walter and Sylvia (Chapin) Stedman at Algona, Iowa. She was baptized on January 3, 1933 and confirmed in 1958 at Marble, Minnesota. Mary received her education at Sherburn Public Schools. On August 30, 1937 she was united in marriage to Herman Janssen at Spirit Lake, Iowa. After their marriage they farmed near Montery until moving to Sebeka and then to Bovey. They later moved back to Sherburn. Herman died on June 10, 1972. On May 17, 1975, Mary was united in marriage to Paul Groskreutz at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn. After their marriage they lived in Sherburn. On January 2, 2005, they moved into Temperance Lake Ridge Assisted Living in Sherburn. Mary became a resident of the Trimont Health Care Center on March 27, 2009. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn, its Senior Lutherans and Ladies Aid. Mary belonged to Christian Women’s in Fairmont. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her family, watching the Minnesota Twins on television, bowling, reading, cooking, gardening, listening to old time music and going to dances at the Fox Lake Ballroom.

Survivors include her husband, Paul Groskreutz of Sherburn, Minnesota; daughters, Ruth Mae Pavich of Sherburn, Judith Nielson and Linda (Dennis) Hoppe both of Trimont, Wendy (Dennis) Beaulieu of Babbit, Minnesota, Penny (Tom) Claussen of rural Sherburn, Sharon (Doyle) Moeller rural Dunnell; step-sons, Paul (Anne) Groskreutz of Minneapolis, Ted (Linda) Groskreutz of Chaska, Steve (Cynthia) Groskreutz of Woodbury, Doug (Pam) Groskreutz of Minnetonka; eight grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; thirteen step-great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola Place of Milford, Iowa, Marge Olson of Algona, Iowa, Emil (Francis) Janssen of Stewartville, Iowa, William (Lois) Groskreutz of Wells, Frank (Wanita) Groskreutz of Waseca, Anna Louise (Roger) Hodgins of Janesville, Minnesota, Benjamin Groskreutz of Wells, Jeanette (Dale) Matheson of Blue Earth, David (Linda) Groskreutz of Wells and Gene Groskreutz of Seattle, Washington; nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, Herman Janssen; sons-in-law, Bob Pavich and Virgil Spiegeler; grandchildren, David Pavich and Kathy Pavich; brothers, Lester Place, Alvin Stedman and Walter Peterson; sister, Dorothy Stedman; brothers and sisters-in-law, Anna (Albert) Studer, Theresa (Ellis) Johnson, Amelia (Clarence) Kuntz, Gesina (Walt) Schley, Helen (Bob) Wellcome, Doris (Willis) Drogemueller; parents-in-law, Theodor (Gesina) Janssen, Frank (Esther) Groskreutz and other relatives.