Michael J. Grosse
LA CROSSE/CROSS PLAINS–Michael J. Grosse, 66, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Mike was born on June 5, 1955, in Madison, the fourth of five children of Wilbert and Lucille (Kuehn) Grosse. He was raised on the family farm near Martinsville, where he grew to love nature and the outdoors. He graduated from Middleton High School in 1973. He worked a variety of jobs in the construction industry where he learned to build and fix anything and everything.
In 1980, Mike met the love of his life, Kimberly Brooks. They were married on Oct. 19, 1985, and together they raised their two daughters in the home he built for them. In 1986, after earning his degree in electronics, he began his employment at Tracor Northern (Thermo Fisher Scientific) as an electronics technician until he retired in 2013.
Throughout the years he enjoyed many hobbies, including deer hunting, traveling, hiking, target shooting, camping, pheasant hunting trips with friends, cheering for Wisconsin sports teams and working out at Vic Tanny’s and The Princeton Club. Mike especially enjoyed social gatherings with family and friends. His stories, warmth, contagious sense of humor and practical jokes could always make you laugh.
His hard work and dedication to his body building passion won him the title of “Mr. Madison” in 1982. He was proud of that achievement and went on to earn awards in other events including “Mr. Wisconsin-Over 40.” Another of Mike’s passions was bow hunting and he enjoyed his years as a member and President of the Cross Plains Valley Archers. He loved vacationing with Kim, especially in the mountains of the western US and Canada, always calling Colorado their “happy place.”
Mike could not have been a better husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend (he never missed a dance recital, soccer or softball game or track meet) and was always willing and able to help out a friend or neighbor on a project, repair or other challenging task. He was a man with a heart of gold who would do anything for his family. His two daughters were his world–which expanded when they married, and he gained two “sons” and later was blessed with three grandchildren that earned him the name “Bo-Pa.”
Michael will be dearly missed by his wife, Kim; children, Cassandra (Heath) Lauden and Amanda (Marc) Misch; grandchildren, Everett, Estelle and Ellis Lauden; siblings, Jane (Kerry) Adler and Jim (Jayne) Grosse; and sister-in-law, Colleen Grosse. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews, other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Thomas and Daniel Grosse and John Tanty; and mother and father-in-law, Walter and Josephine Dyke.
A heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at Gundersen Oncology, Gundersen I. R. Lab and Gundersen Hospice for their compassionate care and support, and to Coulee Region Cremation Group for their thoughtful assistance.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Care, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, at 11:30 a.m. April 2, 2022. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on April 2.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.
