Virginia R. “Sis” Groth

PORTAGE –  Virginia R. “Sis” Groth, age 92, died on Monday, July 23, 2012, at Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena. 

Sis was born on May 17, 1920, the second child of Frank and Lulu (Robinson) Radant at the family home in rural Portage.  She attended Portage schools, graduating in 1938 as an honor student.  In 1942 she married Delbert Groth in the then First Methodist Church in Sheboygan, now St. Luke’s Methodist Church, by Rev. J. Parry Jones, a close friend of the groom.  For the first three and one-half years of their married life they lived in Taunton, Massachusetts while Del was stationed at Camp Myles Standish, a port of debarkation and embarkation during World War II.  At the close of the war when Del was assigned to troop trains taking service men back to their home base Sis returned to Portage to await her husband’s discharge.  On January 22, 1946 they became the parents of twins, a son and daughter born at Divine Savior Hospital in Portage. 

Growing up, Sis was a confirmed member of the Zion Evangelical Church where she also taught Sunday school.  After her marriage she became a member of the First Methodist Church in Portage, now the Portage United Methodist Church, where she also taught Sunday school while her children were growing up.  Sis was also a member of the Women’s Society and volunteered to help for many church dinners.  She was a member of the Mary Elizabeth Circle of the WSCS at the time of her death.  Sis also served as a Cub Scout’s den leader, and worked as a Brownies and Girl Scouts leader when her children were active in those groups.  When her children went off to college she worked with her husband in the family grocery store.          

Sis is survived by her children, Jim (Sharon) Groth, Wausau, and Jean Ellis, Portage; her grandchildren, Shannon  Groth, Eden Prairie, MN, Shellie Nelson, St. Paul, MN, Wendy Ellis, Middleton, and Heidi (Phil) Low, Altoona; three great-grandchildren, Alex Nelson, Mason Groth, and Michael Groth; step-grandchildren, Erick (Shayne) Kiran, and Darra Staley, all of Hartland, Tara Staley, Mesa, AZ, Keith Staley, Los Angeles, CA, and Kevin Staley, Wausau; a sister, Lois Allen, Portage, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Delbert, her brother Frank Radant, and his wife, Marilyn, and her sister, Dorothy “Tots” Davis, and her husband Bob, and brother-in-law, Jack Allen.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Portage United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Countryman officiating.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church.  The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.