Mary Alice (Peterson) Grota, 86 years of Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully at Door County Medical Center Saturday, April 15, 2023 surrounded by her dear family.
She was born July 9, 1936, in Marshall, MN, the daughter of the late Wilbur Peterson and Emily (Graham) Peterson. She attended Marshall, Minnesota grade school and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1954. Mary received her B.A. in Elementary Education in 1958 from the University of Iowa. On June 20, 1959 she married Lee J. Grota in Iowa City. They lived in West Lafayette, Indiana where Mary taught first grade. Following that, Mary and Lee moved to Salt Lake City while her husband earned his post doctorate degree.
In 1965 they moved to Penfield, NY for Lee’s career. She enjoyed gardening and camping, and was active in the garden club, bridge club, the local library where she ran the annual book sale, while raising their four children.
Upon Lee’s retirement in 1999, Mary and Lee moved to Sturgeon Bay and enjoyed 21 years there together. Mary became an active member of the Peninsula Genealogy Society, Door Concerts, Peninsula Planter Garden Club, Friends of Potawatomie State Park, Door County Historical Society, and the Door County Maritime Museum. Mary and Lee enjoyed 15 years of motor home travel around the country sightseeing and researching family genealogy.
Mary is survived by her four children, Catherine (Kenneth) Sahlin of Westerville, Ohio, Steven (Danielle) Grota of Manchester, Connecticut, Mike Grota of Sturgeon Bay, Carl (Jennifer) Grota of Sturgeon Bay; six grandchildren, Trent, Kevin, and Tyler Sahlin, and Margaret, Collin, and Benjamin Grota; great-grandchildren, Everett and Leah Sahlin; in-laws Dick and Janet Grota, Phyllis Gorectke, and Tom and Nancy Grota; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 61 years Lee Grota, her brother Douglas Peterson, and her sister Janet (Peterson) McKay.
Our family wishes to thank the Door County Medical Center and Unity Hospice Care for the wonderful care given to Mary.
Friends may call at Huehns Funeral Home Friday, April 21, 2023 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Services will be held at Huehns Funeral Home on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. with Fr. Bob Stegmann officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed in Mary’s memory to the Door County Medical Center Foundation.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Door County Medical Center ER and Med Surg 2nd floor for the wonderful care shown to our mother and her care needs. And to Unity Hospice and Dr. Binard, thank you for your kind and compassionate care and attention given to our mom, Mary Grota. It was much appreciated.
Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Mary may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
