MONROE — The City of Monroe lost one of its most passionate supporters and proud citizens last weekend, as former Monroe Times Editor and city alder Mary Jane Grenzow succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer. 

Her last days were spent in hospice and at New Glarus home, and her passing was mourned by many in the community, including in her home church, Monroe United Methodist, throughout city hall, and at the small-town newspaper she led for more than seven years.

She was 59.

Grenzow continued to work on council business, being a mom and in other aspects of her life she felt were vital nearly to the end of her roughly three-year battle with uterine cancer. And she is being remembered for her lifelong dedication both to her family and community.

“She had an organized management style under which that I could blossom as a reporter,” said former Times reporter and former Monticello Village President Tere Dunlap, reacting to the news on Monday. “I just loved that our newsroom wasn’t chaotic — like those you see on TV.”

Grenzow was also known to thrive on the inevitable chaos that comes with editing what was then still a daily newspaper, a product life-cycle and responsibility that can hobble even the staunchest journalist. Pressure to get in late-breaking stories and to get the daily edition out on time at night can often conflict with family and social life.

Later, after having several other roles in the community, including working at Colony Brands as a copywriter, Grenzow took on her elected responsibilities for the city even as she fought for her life after the cancer diagnosis; and continued toward the end of her life.

Grenzow even joined a meeting remotely from a hospital bed, said Monroe Mayor Donna Douglas, who served with her on the council. Many also joined Douglas Monday to remember her dedication to job and family.

“She was amazing, so involved,” said Douglas. “Mary Jane’s heart was always, always in the interest of serving all of the citizens of Monroe.”

Grenzow was in her second term on the council, having been re-elected in 2024 to another two-year term. She was an active member who spoke her mind on important issues, including most recently with the controversy over fluoride in Monroe’s drinking water. She also had a special place in her heart for Juda, where she married John Grenzow at Juda Zion Community Church in 1999.

“You just can’t replace people like Mary Jane who are knowledgeable and want to serve,” said Douglas. “She was a great example to others.”

Her newspaper career began working in Minocqua and Beaver Dam as a reporter. After relocating to Monroe in 1992, she started out as both a features and news editor at the Times before being annointed to editor. 

She also worked as a freelance journalist and at Channel 3000.

“The job of a daily newspaper editor is a heavy lift for anyone, but especially those with a growing family,” said current Times Editor Adam Krebs, who worked with Grenzow as a Times sports editor and reporter from 2008 to 2011. “She navigated that really well and helped guide the paper as the internet really began changing how people get the news.”

Grenzow was also active in many volunteer organizations, such as the Monroe Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, and the Green County Humane Society. She is survived by her husband, John and daughters, Elizabeth, Sally, and Christina all of Monroe.

“On a personal level, I could see she was a great mom, too,” said Dunlap. “Her last little girl was just born when I came to work for the paper. So I was impressed watching her juggle all her girls as well as the reporters and our assignments.”

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home.