Joseph Henry Grote, 87, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Regency Park Nursing Home.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 5, 2026, at St. John Paul II Parish – St. Lawrence Church. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur and Sophie Christensen. Lectors will be Christopher Parrino, Alyssa Carlson and Miranda Grote. Gift Bearers are Kayli Grote, Josephine Grote and Payton Grote. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mary Jo Parrino and Kristie Carlson. Casket Bearers will be Joe’s seven sons: John Grote, Don Grote, Ken Grote, Rick Grote, Ron Grote, Scott Grote and Bill Grote. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda.
A visitation will be held at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Saturday at the church prior to the Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Joe’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Joseph was born on February 23, 1939, in Carroll, Iowa, to Herman and Louise (Janning) Grote at St. Anthony Hospital. He grew up in the Breda area and graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1957.
On November 29, 1959, he was united in marriage to Donna Riesberg at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll, in a Mass celebrated by Donna’s uncle, Fr. Leo Riesberg. Shortly after, the young couple settled on their farm north of Arcadia, where they raised their ten children.
In addition to farming, Joe worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He and Donna were also devoted members of St. Bernard Parish for more than 50 years, where he was honored to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. In 2010, he and Donna moved from the farm to Carroll, though the farm remained a gathering place, hosting countless family events over the years.
Joe was an avid and thoughtful conversationalist who took genuine interest in the people and world around him, and he never lost his sense of humor. He enjoyed woodworking and a good game of cards, and he had a lifelong admiration for old cars and tractors. Even after moving off the farm, he kept that interest close by participating in many tractor rides around the Midwest. He and Donna loved to travel, and above all, he cherished time spent with his family.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Louise Grote; his parents-in-law, Walter and Martha Riesberg; his son, Thomas Grote; his brothers, Vernon, Elmer, Erwin, Leonard, and Louis Grote; sisters-in-law Winona and Lois Grote; and brothers- and sisters-in-law Willie and Pat Hinners, Larry and JoAnn Halbur, and Gene Hinners.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Donna Grote of Carroll; and his children: Mary Jo (Richard) Parrino of Washington, DC; John (Jeanette) Grote of Arcadia; Don Grote of Carroll; Kristie (Stein) Carlson of Spencer; Ken (Alexi) Grote of Monkton, MD; Rick Grote of Phoenix, MD; Ron Grote of Breda; Scott Grote of Carroll; and Bill (Jessica) Grote of Manning.
He is also survived by his thirteen grandchildren: Alyssa Carlson, Christopher Parrino, Miranda Grote, Charles Parrino, Jacob Grote, Mark Parrino, Ashlynn Snyder, Kayli Grote, Josephine Grote, Louisa Grote, Kenny Grote, Payton Grote, and Camden Grote; as well as in-laws Charla Grote, Jean Grote, Jerry and Verna Riesberg, Gene and Nancy Riesberg, Darlene Hinners, and Randy and Jeri Riesberg; and many loving nieces and nephews.
