Doreen Margaret Grote, 87 of Carroll, died Friday, August 15, 2025 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 23, 2025 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Jane Boes. Gift Bearers will be Stephanie Jones, Nicole Smith, Hannah Stephens, Haley Stoltz, and Chloe Grote. Casket Bearers will be Tim Pietig, Scott Pietig, Jeff Pietig, Marc Pietig, Benjamin Grote, and Ross Jones. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard for the Funeral Mass. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. by the Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Additional visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for Animal Rescue of Carroll.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Doreen’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Doreen Margaret (Pietig) Grote was born September 10, 1937, in Carroll, IA. Doreen was the daughter of Leonard and Evelyn (Berning) Pietig, she grew up on the family dairy farm just north of Roselle. She was the eldest of four children. She attended St. Angela’s Academy and graduated from Kuemper in 1956.
On September 8,1956 she was united in marriage to her sweetheart John (Jack) Grote at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle, IA. With this union they had three children, Rick, Mike and Joni.
Doreen and Jack moved to Fort Bragg, NC while Jack was enlisted in the U.S. Army. After returning home from North Carolina the couple resided on a farm north of Roselle and then made their final home in Carroll where Jack engaged in farming.
While caring for her family she also worked at Tony’s Restaurant, Brown Derby and Carroll Elks Lodge. Which created several long-term friends and relationships.
Doreen and Jack loved their winters in Mesquite, NV, traveling to Europe and family vacations to New Smyrna Beach, FL.
She loved doing ceramics, macrame, crocheting, cooking, word games, collecting dolls, hummels and going to casinos. She also loved conversations with her grandchildren, learning about their accomplishments and adventures, especially when they sent pictures to her digital picture frame.
Doreen loved her cats (Thomas and Wilbur and any neighborhood feral) and spent most of her time caring for them. Later she was affectionately known as the “Cat Lady”.
Doreen was an active member of St. Lawrence Parish and Catholic Daughters. She also volunteered at St. Anthony’s Hospital Auxiliary.
During the last year Doreen resided at the Regency Park in Carroll where she was taken care of by the wonderful staff.
Left to celebrate Doreen’s life is her children: Rick (Jill) Grote of Carroll, Mike of Carroll, Joni (Clare) O’Rourke of Slater, IA. Seven grandchildren, Patrick, Stephanie (Ross), Nichole, Hannah (Alex), Haley (Ethan), Benjamin and Chloe. Six great-grandchildren, Piper, Colby, Timber, Easton, Shea and Callum. Her sibling William (Judy) Pietig of Glidden. Her sibling in-laws; Joyce Grote of Minooka, IL., John (Jeanne) Rosener of South Sioux City, NE., James (Mary Ann) Grote of Cave Creek, AZ, Bill (Nancy) Grote of Withee, WI., Alice (John) Hamilton of Jefferson. Judy (Duane “Butch”) Olberding of Iowa Falls., Ted (Peggy) Grote of Gibson City, IL. As well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended friends and relatives.
Doreen was preceded in death by her husband, Jack in 2020, her parents Leonard and Evelyn, her parent in-laws Herman and Colette Grote, brother Ronald Pietig, sister Joleen Gerdes, Aunt Marie Campbell, brother in-laws Charles Gerdes, Paul Grote, Ralph Grote, Leonard Grote, Norbert Grote, Leonard Sailer, Lyle Vonnahme, sister in-laws Karma Pietig, Luella Grote, Marlita Grote, Irma Grote, Lorraine Vonnahme, and Mary Sailer.
