Charles Groat

"Charlie"

77, Appleton, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Friday, March 22, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was born November 24, 1935 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to the late Harry and Margaret (Thode) Groat. After graduating High School he entered the U.S. Air Force. He returned and graduated from the University of Iowa and went on to work for the WI Dept. of Revenue in Madison, WI. There Charlie met and married Kathleen Loftus on March 25, 1966. His second career was working with the youth as a school bus driver for Lamers and Kobussen and a driving instructor with Driver's Education for the Fox Cities. Charlie was a proud member of the Democratic Party and was an avid fan of the Packers, Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Kathy; son, Chris Groat, Green Bay; brothers: Roy (Bev) Groat, Hamilton, Ohio and Jerry (Maxine Gilbert) Groat, Spokane, WA; sister-in-law, Rose Ann Andresen, Racine; brother-in-law, Keith (Sherry Goring) Loftus, Falcon, MO. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Shirley Ryan and brother, Lawrence Groat.

Funeral services for Charlie will be held at 11 am, Thurs., March 28, 2013 at Brettschneider Trettin- Nickel Funeral Chapel. Friends may visit the family Wed from 4 - 7 pm and again Thurs from 9 -11 am. Interment will be in Eastside Cemetery in Stoughton, WI. Memorials may be directed to Affinity Visiting Nurses or Neighborhood Housing Inc.

The family would like to thank St. E's staff especially the wound clinic and the Affinity Visiting Nurses for their care of Charlie.