Lila M. Grawin

On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Lord called Lila Grawin, 97, of Tomah, WI, formerly of Kendall, WI, to her heavenly home. Lila was born on October 22, 1926, to Phillip and Ella (Pergande) Buchholz on the family farm in Kinney Valley, rural Wilton. She attended Kinney Valley Country School through the eighth grade and graduated from Wilton High School in 1944. Lila was a big help to her dad, helping with the chores on the farm from field work, feeding and caring for the chickens, putting up the harvest, gathering and milking the cows. It was at one of those times she was herding the cows down the road, she met her future husband, Merlin Grawin, who drove a milk truck that picked up canned milk for the Hofmeister Creamery. Merlin and Lila married in 1949, living on the family farm till they moved to Kendall in 1951. Merlin went to work for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, becoming an engineer, while Lila was a homemaker. They raised eleven children, Larry, Richard, David, Linda, Steven, Darrell, Tamela, John, Betty, Carolyn and Ginny. Lila not only cared for the children but attended a large garden; canning produce and fruit, doing laundry with a wringer washer, drying on multiple clotheslines and clothes racks, ironing, sewing, patching, making quilts, housework, cooking and baking. It was a well-known fact, "the cookie jar was never empty." In 1979, Merlin decided to move Lila and the youngest girls to Altoona, WI, to be close to the railyard he worked out of and could be home with his family. Lila loved being with Merlin every day enjoying life's simple pleasures which ended too soon in 1983, when the Lord called Merlin home at the age of 60. When the youngest girl finished college up north, Lila moved to Tomah, WI. in 1994, to be close to her family. Lila was a faithful Lutheran, being a member of several churches, St. Matthew's on South Ridge rural Ontario; St. John's in Kendall; St. Mark's in Eau Claire and St. Paul's in Tomah. She held offices in various church groups, such as Ladies Aid, Mission Circle and Kro Knitters. Lila enjoyed raising her family and never complained about the work involved. Even though she never drove, her family, cousins and friends made sure she enjoyed life. Some of her travels included trips throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, New York state, New Hampshire, and all the New England states, Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, England (London), Holland and Belgium. Lila lived in her own home till the age of 94, until she decided to move to an assisted living, where someone else could do the cleaning and cooking. Her spare time was spent crocheting, embroidering, reading, word search, fixing puzzles, playing cards, activity room projects and enjoyed watching Jeopardy, the Badgers, the Brewers and the Packers. Lila said she has been blessed with a loving family, relatives and friends. Her family says they have been blessed with a wonderful and loving mother.
She is survived by her children, Richard (Linda) Grawin of Londonderry, NH; David Grawin of Tomah, WI; Linda (Alan) Scott of Wonewoc, WI; Steve Grawin of Minocqua, WI; Darrell Grawin of Madison, WI; Tamela (Dan) Raiten of Plover, WI; John Grawin of Elroy, WI; Betty (Chris) Peterson of Cashton, WI; Carolyn (Ed) John of Dousman, WI; Ginny (Art) Belt of Germantown Hills, IL. Grandchildren, Andrew Scott; Tanya Scott; Emily (Mike) Barron; Ryan (Jen) Grawin; Eric (Amy) Peterson; Jacob Peterson; Sarah Peterson; Rachael Peterson; Helen (Issac) Young; Jennifer John; Melissa John. Great-grandchildren, Evan and Nicholas Grawin; Christian Peterson, a sister and brother-in-law Donna and Sherman Swanson of New Berlin.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Ella Buchholz and infant Buchholz siblings; husband, Merlin Grawin; son, Larry Grawin; sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Gerald Kaus; sister-in-law and husband, Evelyn and Martin Liefke; sister-in-law and husband, Mildred and Glenn Schultz; brother-in-law and wife, Harvey and Aletha Grawin; many cousins, nephews and nieces.
A Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024,11:00 A.M. at the St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church of Kendall, WI, with Rev. Zachary Meier and Rev. Robert Gerke officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to visitation at the church from 10:00 am until the time of the service. The burial will be in the South Ridge Cemetery, rural Ontario, WI. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home, Kendall is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. The family requests memorials may be given to the St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church and School of Tomah, WI in Lila's name.
The family would like to thank the staff and her resident friends at the Touch of Home Assisted Living, Tomah Health Pallative Care, St. Croix Hospice and the Sonnenburg Funeral Home for all the help and care they gave our mother. Special thanks to those who visited, sent cards and wrote letters, you made her day.