Wallace “Wally” J. Grochow, 87, of Hutchinson, formerly of Brownton, died Monday, July 13, 2015, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 24, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brownton with the Rev. R. Allan Reed officiating. Dawn Wolter was the organist. Soloist Darwin Frauendienst sang “In the Garden.” Congregational hymns were “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “Abide With Me.”
Casket bearers were Greg Palmquist, Robert Nunvar, Bruce Nuwash, Brad Kautzer, Brian Bielke, Scott Schuette and Jeff Roepke. Honorary casket bearers were DuWayne Paehlke and Gerald Harbarth.
Military honors were by Brownton American Legion Post 143. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Wallace “Wally” John Grochow was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Brownton, the son of Richard and Lillian (Henschel) Grochow. He was baptized as an infant on Oct. 16, 1927, by the Rev. Kowalski, and was confirmed in his faith as a youth on June 8, 1941, by the Rev. Schmidt, both at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brownton. He was educated in District 55.
Mr. Grochow entered active military service in the U.S. Army on Nov. 24, 1950, in Glencoe, and served his country during the Korean War as a member of the Fifth Army. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 25, 1952, at Fort Custer, Mich., and had achieved the rank of corporal.
On April 23, 1952, he was united in marriage to Marjorie “Margie” Groehler at Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop by the Rev. Kuehner. They resided and farmed near Brownton in Penn Township. They shared 51 years of marriage before Mrs. Grochow’s death on April 23, 2003.
Mr. Grochow was a lifelong farmer. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brownton. He also was a member of Brownton American Legion Post 143 and a lifetime member of New Auburn American Legion Post 31.
He enjoyed fishing, traveling and dancing. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
When he needed assistance with his daily care, he became a resident of Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson on Aug. 26, 2014.
He is survived by his sisters, Carol (Jack) Nuwash of Silver Lake and Janet Bielke of Glencoe; sister-in-law, Audrey Bartz of Eden Prairie; nieces and nephews, Julie (Brad) Kautzer, Brian (Sara) Bielke, Kathy (Greg) Palmquist, Bob (Joy) Nunvar and Bruce (Rebecca) Nuwash; 10 grandnieces and grandnephews; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Lillian Grochow; wife, Margie Grochow; brothers, Willard Grochow, Norman Grochow, Ray Grochow and Roy Grochow; and a brother-in-law, Larry Bartz.
Arrangements were with the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.hantge.com.
