Mavis L Grosenick

Mavis Lorraine (Schubert) Grosenick, age 95, who could sit down next to anyone and have a pleasant conversation, died July 20, 2024.

Mavis was born on March 16, 1929 in Richford Township in Waushara County. She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Othelia Schubert, and sister of Robert Schubert and Ray Patten, a boy the Schuberts had taken in when his mother died. The family moved several months later to a farm just north of Wautoma. Mavis and her older brother, Bob, attended the Spees one-room schoolhouse. At this time, during the Depression, her parents often opened their home to someone in need, as they had done for Ray. A cousin/carpenter stayed with them between jobs. Ernie, a friend of Bob began staying with the family when his parents weren’t able to support him. 

In 1939, the family moved to a farm two miles north of Waupun where Mavis began sixth grade. Soon after the war began, Bob and Ernie enlisted in the army. Ferd couldn’t run the farm without their help, so he sold the farm and the family moved into Waupun. The family now included Ferd, Tillie, Mavis, Rod, and Lois. 

In 1945, most able-bodied men were off fighting the war and many women were taking men’s jobs while they were away. There were very few people to fill available positions. Wisconsin Bell often hired girls still in high school to work as telephone operators in the evenings and on weekends. Mavis began working as a telephone operator on her sixteenth birthday while she was a sophomore at Waupun High School. She often mentioned how proud she was to have such an important job and contribute to the war effort.

After the war, her parents left their jobs in a rivet factory, a supplier created for the war effort, and decided to go back to farming. Mavis stayed in Waupun to finish her junior year in high school. She lived with her brother Bob and a friend, both of whom had returned from the war in the South Pacific. In August of 1946 she joined her parents in Juneau where she continued to work for Wisconsin Bell while she was a senior in Juneau High School. During her first week as a telephone operator, a young man rang on and asked to be connected to ‘the shop’. Mavis asked what the shop was. The young man said it was his brothers’ business. But who were his brothers? This led to a lengthy conversation which led to several more conversations over the next few days. 

Within two weeks Mavis accepted an invitation to go on a blind date, once she was assured by her co-worker that this young man was a nice fellow. On the night that Vern, her future husband, came to pick her up, she couldn’t introduce him to her parents because she had forgotten his name. A bit more than a year later, on November 8, 1947, they were married.

Over the next five years they had three wonderful children: Thomas, Gerry, and Larry.

 During this time, Mavis joined the American Legion Auxiliary, rising to the office of Post President. She also supported Vern as he rose to State Commander of the American Legion and later the National Vice-Commander for the upper Midwest.

They formed innumerable long-lasting friendships during their 50-year involvement with the American Legion. They seldom missed a state or national convention, usually traveling with fellow Legionaires and vacationing along the way. 

In the summer of 1957 the family moved to Watertown. With the children in school, Mavis went back to work at the telephone company.

One of the most difficult times Mavis had while raising her three boys was watching her oldest son, Thomas, walk to the bus station on the first leg of his trip to Viet Nam.

In 1971, Mavis and Vern purchased the Dakota Inn. Dakota is approximately 1½ mile from the house in which Mavis and her father were born. In many respects moving there was like moving home. According to Mavis, owning and operating this bar, restaurant, and dance hall was a ‘biggie’. She said it was a leap of faith, leaving a job she enjoyed and jumping into the unknown. They operated the Dakota Inn fof 21 years, working as much as 96 hours per week, hosting hundreds of wedding receptions, and making many, many friends.

Local residents improved their general knowledge of world geography during this time. Each time a letter from second son Gerry arrived from overseas, customers could be assured that Mavis would get out the globe and show everyone where he was. 

Mavis was always considered an alumna of both Waupun High School and Juneau High School.

Upon selling the Dakota Inn in 1992, Mavis immediately took a job at Copps grocery store because she couldn’t stand the thought of not being around other people. She retired from Copps in 2009 after 17+ years behind the cash register. 

Mavis’ political career began in 1997 when she was elected Treasurer of the Town of Dakota – by one vote. (One vote can make a difference, so get out there and vote!) In 2009, she was elected to her seventh two-year term.

Mavis was a member of AARP. She served as Treasurer of her local Wautoma chapter and was an AARP volunteer at the Wautoma Performing Arts Center. 

Vern and Mavis were long-time members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church near Crystal Lake. Mavis taught Sunday School classes, attended Bible Study classes, and helped assemble and sew many, many quilts on Wednesday afternoons.

Mavis, like her mother, never took any medicines, although she did get a couple of new prescriptions after she turned 90. 

Mavis left Dakota in 2018, after living there for there for 47 years, and moved to Rosemore Village in Wild Rose. Mavis died at Rosemore Village on July 20, 2024. 

Mavis is survived by three sons: Thomas of Green Bay, WI, Gerry (and Susan) of Salmon, ID, and Larry (and Sandy) of downtown Dakota, WI; and four grandchildren: Jean Grosenick of Appleton, WI, Julie (and Tex) Nelson of Neenah, WI, Maggie (and Travis) Seaberg of Salmon, ID, and Galen (and Sarah) Grosenick of Palmyra, PA; seven great-grandchildren; bother Rod Schubert of Columbus, WI, and sister Lois Jahnke of Beaver Dam, WI. 

Memorial services will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church near Crystal Lake, WI, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Mavis will be laid to rest next to her husband Vern in the Juneau City Cemetery in Juneau, WI on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local American Legion Post, your local Cancer Society, or another benevolent organization of your choice.