Patricia J. Grundmeier

The Lord called Patricia Janet (Jenc) Grundmeier home after granting her 87 years of grace. She died peacefully at Woodlands Senior Park, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on June 20, 2016.



She was born to Christian parents, Arthur Joseph Jenc and Alvira Lillian (Mathies) on May 27, 1929, in Raymond Township, Stearn County, Minnesota. She was received into the Kingdom of God, by the washing of Holy Baptism, on April 22, 1934, at the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, and confirmed in the faith of Christ Jesus on July 11, 1943, at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1947. After graduation she worked in the Trust Department at the Iowa-Des Moines National Bank in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1947-1951.



On September 1, 1951, she was married to Orren Louis Grundmeier at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Des Moines, Iowa, by his brother, Pastor Russell Grundmeier of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Patricia and Orren met through the International Walther League youth group of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. She created custom window treatments and was a dressmaker owning and operating Pat’s Drapery and Sewing of Carroll, Iowa, for 28 years from 1965-1993. After retirement, she moved to Fond du Lac.



Patricia and her husband were active members of Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Synod in Charles City, Iowa, for thirteen years, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Carroll, Iowa, for nine years, Lincoln Heights Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Synod in Des Moines, Iowa, for twenty years, and most recently Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Synod in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, since 1993.



Patricia began losing hearing in childhood and was deaf for much of her adult life. The Lord gave her solace to accept this hardship and strength to adapt to her limitations. Patricia’s walk of faith was guided by Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men …” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray continually”. She cherished serving her Lord as an organist, choir member, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, church librarian, and Altar Committee member. Patricia also created banners for her churches and Winnebago Lutheran Academy, assisted her husband as church custodian, and encouraged others through cards and letters. She enjoyed God’s creation through her love of flowers and birds, seasonal changes, and the lunar sky. Patricia treasured her time with her family and, for 31 years, spent her vacations with them in Door County, Wisconsin. Although she was an avid reader, she stopped to play the card game 500, Scrabble, or Crazy Eights. Patricia was a 4-H leader, an excellent cook and homemaker, and Christian mentor and role model for many.



Patricia is survived by her brother Richard Jenc and his wife Diane Jenc; by her five children, Janet (George) Ott of Naperville, Illinois, David (Carol Lamphere) Grundmeier of DeWitt, Michigan, Brian (Ruth Kaiser) Grundmeier of Houston, Texas, Gloria (David) Meyer of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Stewart (Rhonda Maahs) Grundmeier of Green Bay, Wisconsin; twelve grandchildren, Paul Ott, Jacqueline Ott, Daniel Young, Katherine Young, Tim (Erika Schreiner) Grundmeier, Jeffrey (Valerie Leinberger) Grundmeier, Robert Grundmeier, Jill (Michael) Knepprath, Jennifer Meyer and fiancé Samual Brinkman, Rebekah Meyer, Nathan Grundmeier, and Jack Grundmeier; seven great-grandchildren, Eloise Grundmeier, Emma Grundmeier, Nadia Grundmeier, Owen Knepprath, Ryan Grundmeier, Bridget Grundmeier, and Haddie Grundmeier; sisters-in-law Marie Dion, and Dorothy (Ken) Knudson; nieces and nephews; and extended family and many friends.



She was preceded in death by her husband Orren Grundmeier; her parents; sister Marilyn Jenc; brothers-in-law Ralph Grundmeier, Harold Grundmeier, and Russell Grundmeier; sisters-in-law Pearl (Jentzen) Grundmeier, Marion (Lau) Grundmeier, Althea (Beckwith) Grundmeier, and Letha Grundmeier; her husband’s infant twin sisters; and grandson Matthew Grundmeier.



Visitation: The visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, and one hour before the service on Saturday, June 25, at Faith Lutheran Church.



Services: A Christian funeral to glorify the Lord will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, Fond du Lac, on Saturday, June 25, at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Michael Weigand officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, June 27. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church.



Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of services. Additional information and guestbook may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com.