Leo A. Groh found peace on April 9, 2013, at the age of 89. Leo was born in the village of Barton on December 11, 1923. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School, and in 1941 graduated from West Bend High School, and started working for Wisconsin Electric Company. At age 19, Leo joined his brother in the U.S. Army, serving during World War II. He was fortunate to be selected for the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) for seven months of accelerated engineering courses at George Washington University and City College of New York. Upon completion, he was shipped overseas to Europe to serve until his discharge in March of 1946. Leo achieved the rank of Corporal and was assigned the duties of Company Clerk with Company A of the 381st Engineering Combat Battalion. Because he was the only serviceman in their unit with a camera, Leo also became the unofficial company photographer. After serving his country, Leo attended UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), and UW-Madison.
In 1947 Leo began his career in Production Engineering with the West Bend Company. On December 31, 1981, he retired from his position there as the Manager of Manufacturing Engineering. In retirement, Leo worked part time as a real estate agent for ten years. Leo was an active member of Holy Angels Catholic Church; he was a Past President of the Holy Name Society. In 1998, the University of Wisconsin Washington County honored Leo with a lifetime service award for his 30 years of service, including 6 years as Alderman for the City of West Bend, President of the City Council, 16 years as Washington County Supervisor, and Chairman of the UWWC Board of Commissioners. He had an on-going interest in community concerns.
On July 9, 1949, Leo married Patricia F. Hausmann, the love of his life. (He often told his family that choosing her was the best decision he ever made.) He designed both of their family homes, the second in which Leo & Patricia lived for over 55 years. Among his life-long hobbies were woodworking and photography. Leo customized their homes with great care and provided his ever-growing family with a vast pictorial record of their milestones and adventures.
Leo is survived by Patricia, his loving wife of nearly 64 years, and their eight children, Karen Breit of West Bend, Allen (Christine) Groh of Wauwatosa, Margie Groh of Glendale, Nancy (Ken) Wilson of Fond du Lac, Janis Zarins of Appleton, Brian (Linda) Groh of Prior Lake, MN, Sandra (Donald) Bost of Colorado Springs, CO, and David (Christina) Groh of Las Vegas, NV. Leo was cherished by his 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with several more expected this summer.
Leo is further survived by his two sisters: Lucille (Allen) Zautcke and Margaret (Richard) Klumb, five sisters-in-law, Charlotte (Leroy) Chapman, Marcella (Ray) Boden, Helen Hausmann, Therese Kohn, and Frances (Gordon) Wilhelmi, as well as many nieces & nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was predeceased in death by his parents, Albert P. & Apollonia M. (Fellenz) Groh, his brother: Sylvester (Ella Mae) Groh, two sisters: Marcella (William) Vogelsberg and Olive (Clifford) Kissinger, and two brothers-in-law, Eugene (Verneda) Hausmann and Vincent (Jeanette) Hausmann.
A Mass of Christian Burial in remembrance of Leo will be held on Saturday, April 13th at 1:00p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 138 N. 8th Avenue, West Bend. A reception will follow the mass in the Walnut Room. Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the mass. Burial will be Monday at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Angels Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Holy Angels Parish, the Lighthouse of West Bend, or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
The family would like express their gratitude to Dr. Rajesh Trivedi, along with the staffs of Betty's Harbor at the Lighthouse of West Bend and of Grace Hospice for their care of Leo during recent months.