Rev. Louis W. Grossen, age 85, passed away on January 16, 2015 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.
Born March 20, 1929 in Washington Township, Green County, WI, Louis was the son of the late John and Frieda (Zybach) Grossen. He was baptized at Swiss Church, New Glarus. He attended Daleyville State Grade School and graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1947. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and graduated from Mission House College (now Lakeland College) in 1951 and from the Mission House Theological Seminary (now the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities) in 1954 with a Master of Divinity degree. On August 22, 1953, he married Margery L. Gaul at the First Presbyterian Church, Tipton, IA and on June 6, 1954, was ordained into the Christian ministry at Zwingli United Church of Christ (U.C.C.), Mt. Vernon, WI. He served pastorates at Emmanuel U.C.C., Marion Township, Woodman, WI, St. John and Van Cleve U.C.C., Melbourne, IA, and St. Luke's U.C.C., Jeffersonville, IN.
In 1976, he accepted the position of Director Alumni Relations at Lakeland College, Sheboygan, WI. Later he became the Director of Planned Giving and Church Relations, retiring in 1995 and receiving Lakeland College's award for distinguished service.
Following retirement, Louis and Marge enjoyed travel throughout the United States and the World, especially in Switzerland with family relatives. He was a member of Salem U.C.C., Plymouth, WI and a past member and president of the Kohler Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed preaching and doing pastoral study at various churches in the area.
He is survived by his wife, Margery, three sons, Timothy of Oklahoma City, OK, Richard (Patty) Forest Lake MN, James (Jodi) of Sheboygan Falls, two daughters Christine (Tom) Forsterling of Random Lake, WI and Deborah (John) Lefebvre of Plymouth, WI. Nine grandchildren include Alyssa and Audrey Grossen of Oklahoma, Jaquelyn (Patrick) Guenther of Sun Prairie, WI, Jason Mock (Jennifer) of New Prague, MN, Eric Mock of Miami, FL, Andrew and Luke Grossen of Forest Lake, MN, and Evan and Abigail Grossen of Sheboygan Falls, WI. Surviving also are two sisters, Mrs. Dori L. Brown of Rhinelander, WI and Fritzie E. Meir (Michael) of Allison Park, PA, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
According to his wishes, his remains were cremated and a service will be held at Salem U.C.C., 217 Salem Drive, Plymouth WI on January 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. A short visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:30 a.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent for the Grossen Scholarship Fund at Lakeland College, Box 359, Sheboygan WI 53082-0359.
To sign the guestbook, visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com.
Born March 20, 1929 in Washington Township, Green County, WI, Louis was the son of the late John and Frieda (Zybach) Grossen. He was baptized at Swiss Church, New Glarus. He attended Daleyville State Grade School and graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1947. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and graduated from Mission House College (now Lakeland College) in 1951 and from the Mission House Theological Seminary (now the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities) in 1954 with a Master of Divinity degree. On August 22, 1953, he married Margery L. Gaul at the First Presbyterian Church, Tipton, IA and on June 6, 1954, was ordained into the Christian ministry at Zwingli United Church of Christ (U.C.C.), Mt. Vernon, WI. He served pastorates at Emmanuel U.C.C., Marion Township, Woodman, WI, St. John and Van Cleve U.C.C., Melbourne, IA, and St. Luke's U.C.C., Jeffersonville, IN.
In 1976, he accepted the position of Director Alumni Relations at Lakeland College, Sheboygan, WI. Later he became the Director of Planned Giving and Church Relations, retiring in 1995 and receiving Lakeland College's award for distinguished service.
Following retirement, Louis and Marge enjoyed travel throughout the United States and the World, especially in Switzerland with family relatives. He was a member of Salem U.C.C., Plymouth, WI and a past member and president of the Kohler Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed preaching and doing pastoral study at various churches in the area.
He is survived by his wife, Margery, three sons, Timothy of Oklahoma City, OK, Richard (Patty) Forest Lake MN, James (Jodi) of Sheboygan Falls, two daughters Christine (Tom) Forsterling of Random Lake, WI and Deborah (John) Lefebvre of Plymouth, WI. Nine grandchildren include Alyssa and Audrey Grossen of Oklahoma, Jaquelyn (Patrick) Guenther of Sun Prairie, WI, Jason Mock (Jennifer) of New Prague, MN, Eric Mock of Miami, FL, Andrew and Luke Grossen of Forest Lake, MN, and Evan and Abigail Grossen of Sheboygan Falls, WI. Surviving also are two sisters, Mrs. Dori L. Brown of Rhinelander, WI and Fritzie E. Meir (Michael) of Allison Park, PA, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
According to his wishes, his remains were cremated and a service will be held at Salem U.C.C., 217 Salem Drive, Plymouth WI on January 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. A short visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:30 a.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent for the Grossen Scholarship Fund at Lakeland College, Box 359, Sheboygan WI 53082-0359.
To sign the guestbook, visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com.