John Alan Groessl

John Groessl Obituary
John Alan "Allie" Groessl, 92, Algoma, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the Unity Hospice Facility in Ledgeview. He was born September 18, 1931, in Algoma to Clement and Agnes (McLaughlin) Groessl.
Alan graduated from St. Mary Grade School in 1945 and Algoma High School with the class of "49". After high school he attended UW-Madison and St. Norbert's College.
On January 29, 1951, he married Beth Shaw at St. John's Cathedral in Milwaukee (temperature that day was -32 degrees).
Alan was employed by the A.O. Smith Corporation in Milwaukee for four years before returning to Algoma with his family in 1955. He worked for the US Plywood (later known as Champion International and Algoma Hardwoods) for almost 39 years, until his retirement in 1993. During that time, he had a variety of jobs, including QC Manager, R&D Manager and 13 years as Door Sales Manager for Algoma Hardwoods.
In high school, Alan, was very active in the only three sports available at the time, football, basketball and baseball. So, it followed in his working years he took up officiating high school football and basketball and also played basketball and softball in his free time. He followed the Algoma High School teams every chance he got, as well as the Packers and Badgers. In addition to his interests in sports, he was involved in various activities at St. Mary Parish, including school board, finance council, parish council, trustee, lector and distributor for over 30 years. He and Beth enjoyed camping with family and after the children were grown, traveled to many US cities as well as Canada, Mexico, Israel, Ireland, England and numerous other European countries.
After his retirement, Alan and Beth spent the next 10 winters in Fort Myers, FL. He was a member of the advisory committee to the mop factory at East Shore Industries for eight years, served on the Algoma Utility Commission for 12 years, co-managed St. Mary Cemetery for eight years and volunteered at the Algoma Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center for over 25 years. In addition, he could be found on the Alaska Golf Course 5 mornings a week with an ever-evolving group, many of whom he knew since first grade.
Alan is survived by his two sons Dave (Jane) and Mark (Barbie), son-in-law Gary Hareland and daughter-in-law Joan. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren; Terri (Adam) Lebrecht, Jeff (Chelsey), Jackie (Wayne) Thompson, (David's children); Nick (Megan), Ben (Emmy), (Mark's children); Rory (Sarah), Casey (Shayna) and Quinn (Mitch's children); 11 great grandchildren Caden, Reece, Wesley, Otis, Tabatha, Jack, Lola, Lauren, Kalynn, Levi and Greyson; his sister Kay Cesar.
He was preceded in death by his wife Beth in 2007, they were married 2 weeks short of 56 years, his parents, his children Mike, Mitch and Debbie Hareland; his great granddaughter Aubree, sisters Mary Ann and Jean Kubiak, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law John Kubiak, Lloyd Cesar, Robert Shaw, Nick (Joyce) Weisner and Roger (Colleen) Faken.
Visitation for Alan will take place on Thursday, June 27th, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Algoma, from 9 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM with Fr. Andrew Kurz officiating. Burial in the church cemetery to follow.
The family wants to give a special thank you to Sycamore Lodge, Bellin 7th floor nurses and Unity Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care he was given.
The Schinderle Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements for Alan and his family. Express your sympathy, memories and pictures on Alan's tribute page at www.schinderlefuneralhome.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of John Alan Groessl, please visit our floral store.