Alice Augusta Bertha (Thiel) DeGroff, age 89, passed away peacefully at her rural Waldo home surrounded by her family on April 25, 2020.
Alice was born on June 23, 1930 to Arthur W. and Esther S. (Augustine) Thiel. Alice was a child of The Great Depression and WWII. Her life was filled with hard work, family and a love of knowledge about the world. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church and walked the path of the teachings of Jesus Christ. She worked throughout her life providing much needed domestic help for neighbors. Alice went to the Cascade Elementary School and graduated from eighth grade going straight to work to help her family during the depression years. This did not dim her love of learning, which she passed on to her boys. Alice and her brother Adrian took care dutifully of their mother until Esther’s death. Alice also worked for the Waldo canning company.
On December 2, 1950 Alice married Burton James DeGroff. Together they raised five boys through the good times and bad times providing quiet moral instruction and a good home. Alice loved plants, gardening, and reading whatever held her interest, from recipes to sports stories to her son's assigned literature from school. She loved her grandchildren and helped to teach them how to read. She played, baked, and sledded down the backyard hill in a cake pan with them. She always had a kind word for people and a shoulder if they needed one. She had a gentle soul and kind spirit.
Survivors include her son's Michael (Susie) DeGroff of Cascade, William (Mary) DeGroff of Waldo, Joel DeGroff of Haven, Peter (Susan) DeGroff of Waldo, and James Peter DeGroff of Waldo. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, they include Rebecca (Burton) Vanderhoof of Howard’s Grove, Amber (Nicholas) Kissinger of Howards Grove, James M. DeGroff and fiancé Jesse Wahl of Sheboygan Falls, Anna (Jake) Voigt of Waldo, Sara DeGroff of Waldo, Jessie (Andrew) Eaton of Plymouth, and Jodi (Dan) and Loomis of Waldo. Great Grandchildren include Corabell and Alarik Vanderhoof of Howards Grove, Avery Eaton of Plymouth, and Gwen Loomis of Waldo, and two great grandchildren on the way. Two sisters-in-law include Vyra Thiel of Waldo and Jessie Augustine of Sheboygan.
Preceding her in death are her husband Burton, parents, and her brothers Adrian Thiel and Donald Augustine.
The family would like to thank the Doctors and Staff at Memorial Hospital and also Sharon Richards Hospice for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alice would be appreciated.
Private services and a burial have taken place at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery. The immediate family wishes to invite friends and extended relation to a gathering to be announced at a later date.
For online condolences and additional information please visit
www.wenigfh.com
.
The Wenig Funeral Home of Sheboygan Falls (920-467-3431) is serving the DeGroff family with arrangements.
