Wilhelm "Bill" A Groskurth

Wilhelm Albert (Bill) Groskurth, 89, of Albert Lea MN passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, 2023.

Bill was born April 19, 1934 to Wilhelm T. and Vera A. Groskurth on their farm near Quasqueton, IA. He joined his sister Maxine and was followed by his brother Leon. In 1936 his family moved to a farm near Independence, IA, where his brothers George and Walter were born.

Bill attended country school and then graduated from Independence High School in 1952. He began the Civil Engineering curriculum at Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) in Ames, IA, in the fall of 1952. He met Gwenda Ann Geyer at a dance in Oelwein, IA, during Christmas break in December 1953. He was drafted into Army Service in March 1955 and served for 2 years including 16 months in Japan. After his discharge, he and Gwen were married on May 26, 1957 at Richfield Lutheran Church near Sumner, IA. In the fall they moved to Ames, IA, and Bill returned to college. He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State in May 1959. They moved to Manchester, IA, in June 1959 where he became Assistant Delaware County Engineer. In June 1962 they moved to Osage, IA, when he accepted the position of Assistant Mitchell County Engineer and then Mitchell County Engineer in 1965. In February 1987 he accepted the position of Freeborn County Highway Engineer and he and Gwen moved to Albert Lea, MN. He retired in August 1998.

Their first two daughters, Karen and Lynne, were born in Manchester. Their third daughter, Mary, was born in Osage. He was very proud that all his daughters also graduated from Iowa State University.

Bill held Professional Engineers licenses in Iowa and Minnesota along with an Iowa Land Surveyors license. In Iowa he served terms as president of the North Iowa Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society, president of the Iowa County Engineers Association, and was on the Iowa Highway Research Board for six years. In Minnesota he served terms on the Screening Board and the Executive Board of the County Engineers Association. He was a Life Member of the National Association of County Engineers, National Association of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Bill was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea where he was an usher for nearly thirty years and he and Gwen served on the mission team. Bill was active in Albert Lea Rotary. He worked on Habitat for Humanity homes after he retired and he always looked forward to his coffee groups. Bill and Gwen enjoyed a six week trip to Alaska in their pickup camper in 2003 and they also pulled a fifth-wheel camper for 15 years to various locations in Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Bill and Gwen liked to travel, visit their family, and spend time with friends. They always loved to dance during their 66 years of marriage.

Bill will be greatly missed by all who loved him. He is survived by his wife, Gwen; daughters, Karen (Rick) Wilson, Lynne (Dave Schramm) Groskurth, Mary (Scott) Senne; five grandchildren, Royce (Alyssa Ahn) Wilson, Meghan Senne, Caitlin Senne, Jena (Dillon) Vogt, Tyler Senne; his sister, Maxine Losen; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents and parents-in-law; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Leon (Dorothy), George (Marjorie), Walter; and brother-in-law, William Losen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, the Rotary Foundation District 5960, and Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota.