Evelyn O. Groe

Mills, passed away Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 at the Lake Mills Care Center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday), Aug. 18, at Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with her grandson, Rev. Jason D. Groe, officiating.Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. at the church Wednesday.Burial will take place in the Sion Lutheran Church Cemetery.Memorials may be directed to Sion Lutheran Church or to the donor’s choice. Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills, is assisting the family.
Evelyn Olinda (Kallheim) Groe was born Dec. 17, 1920 in Bristol Township, rural Lake Mills, to parents Otto and Ellen (Hagen) Kallheim. Her childhood was difficult, as both of her parents passed when Evelyn was 10 and 11 years old, leaving her with her two older brothers. She was baptized and confirmed at Bristol Lutheran Church and attended country school.
On Dec. 21, 1940, Evelyn was united in marriage with Raymond E. Groe at Silver Lake Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in Bristol Township where Evelyn was a farm wife, helping Raymond with the dairy cattle, and she was a homemaker ,raising five children. They lived in Bristol until 1993, when they moved into Lake Mills. Evelyn and Raymond had 66 years of marriage together.
In June of 2016, she moved into Mills Harbour Independent Living, where she enjoyed playing cards and Bingo. In November 2020, she became a resident of the Lake Mills Care Center.
Evelyn loved gardening and her flowers. She enjoyed canning vegetables and fruit. She spent free time sewing and knitting—making many outfits for her family—and she made crafts. Evelyn will be remembered for making lefse, both for her family and for sale. She also enjoyed watching baseball, no matter the team, but the Cardinals were her favorite.
Evelyn was so proud of her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was blessed to spend many winters in Florida with her daughter.
Those left to cherish her memory are four children: Victor (Georgia) Groe, Lester Prairie, Minn.; Julie Groe, Ft. Myers, Fla.; Russell and (Judy) Groe, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Harlen Groe, Ames; nine grandchildren: Kirt (Stacey) Groe, Annette (Jonn) Machemehl, Christina (Joe) Kadolph, Jason (Holly) Groe, Kara (Dale) Hudson, Scott Groe, Sean (Mandy) Groe, Tammy Groe and Troy Groe; great-grandchildren: Reid Groe, Sophie Groe, Keenan Coon, Allison Machemehl, Morgan Machemehl, Jessie Kadolph, Jami Kadolph, Mikaela Kadolph, Christian Kadolph, Jadyn Groe, Bella Groe, Brady Groe, Briston Hudson, Barrett Hudson, Ian Groe, Chloe Groe; and other extended relatives and friends.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Ellen; husband, Raymond; son, Robert Groe; a special friend, Mary Webb; daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Groe; two brothers, Arnold (Florence) Kallheim and Johnny (Florence) Kallheim; a nephew, Arlo Kallheim; and a grand-nephew, Mark VanHooser.