Judy K. Groh

Judy K. Groh passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026, at the age of 85 while under hospice care at Waukesha Memorial Hospital, following a brave battle with health issues. She was surrounded by her loving sister, daughters and their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Judy was born on September 18, 1940, in Fruitland Park, Florida, to Smiley and Katherine Allen.

During her childhood, she attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School in Waukesha and North Lake School in North Lake. Later, Judy attended Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha and Arrowhead High School in Hartland before continuing her education at UW-Whitewater, where she initially earned a teaching certificate.

On June 9, 1962, she married Jerome P. Groh, beginning a life centered around family. Together, they raised three daughters, Laurie, Susan, and Pam.

While raising their three daughters, Judy returned to UW-Whitewater, where she earned a teaching degree. She taught fourth and fifth grades at Lawrence Elementary School in Waukesha. She served as a substitute teacher in both the Pewaukee and Waukesha School Districts. She was active in the PTO at Lowell Elementary School and shared her love of music and performance through Sweet Adelines in Waukesha.

Judy was a global thinker and lifelong learner. She had endless curiosity and a deep appreciation for medicine, law, science, history, geography, literature, language, music, theater, and the arts. She enjoyed singing, cards, travel, golf, tennis, painting, drawing, dancing, and ice skating. She was a skilled writer and had beautiful penmanship. She also was an excellent writer of shorthand.

Most of all, Judy enjoyed spending time with her family, having deep, meaningful conversations about nature, people, culture, science, current events, and the meaning of life. She maintained contact with people from her past and pursued locating people who she had lost touch with. Judy was a memory keeper and loved sharing stories of her past and current experiences. She was an engaged listener, and possessed appreciation and empathy for diverse viewpoints. She had a deep understanding about the interconnectedness of all living things.

Those who knew Judy will remember her as loving, patient, kind, thoughtful, generous, compassionate, understanding, witty, courageous, resilient, and fiercely independent. She lived with determination and cared deeply for people and the world around her.

Judy is lovingly survived by her children, Laurie (Mark) Hamer, Susan (Nick) Ronnenberg, and Pamela Groh and John Rasmussen, father of Gabe, Bailey, and Joe; her grandchildren, Brittany (Michael) Gaona, Samantha Hamer, Cassandra (Michael) McDonald, Gabe Rasmussen, Bailey (Brandon) Azzolina, and Joseph Rasmussen; and her great-grandchildren, Kellen Gaona, Reese Gaona, Jayla Nelson, and Jace Rasmussen.

She is further survived by her sister, Christine Allen; nieces Laurie (Chris) Claus and Anne Groh (fiancé Tony Sciortino); nephews Thomas (Jenny) Allen, David (Mary) Groh, Thomas (Patti) Groh, James Groh, and Stephen Groh; as well as special friends Karen Daley and Mary Daley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Smiley and Katherine Allen; her brothers Richard (Barbara) Allen and Daniel (Mary) Allen; her niece Teresa Krier; her granddaughter Chelsea Kovacich; and Rashad Nelson, partner of Samantha Hamer and father of Jayla Nelson.

Judy often reminded others to “Be yourself,” a simple but meaningful reflection of the authenticity and kindness she carried throughout her life.

A visitation for Judy will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Cesarz Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188, from 1:00 p.m. until the start of the service at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Judy’s honor may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin, St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store in Waukesha, or The Salvation Army of Waukesha County.

Judy’s kindness, strength, and unwavering love for her family will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.