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Memorial Keepers (1)
Mission Mortuary - Monterey
Robert Eugene Grochau
June 26th, 1930 - September 5th, 2016
Robert Eugene Grochau passed away in Pacific Grove, California, on September 5, 2016 after a three-year battle with melanoma. He was 86. Pastor Grochau was born on June 26, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri. He lived there briefly before moving with his parents Leslie and Edna to their hometown, St.Paul, Minnesota. Robert was a Boy Scout and achieved the Eagle Scout award. He was so proud when both his grandsons, Zach and Gus, followed in his footsteps and became Eagle Scouts. He graduated from Central High School in St. Paul before moving onto the University of Rochester in New York to earn his B.A. in 1952. Pastor Grochau did not grow up in a religious family, but he felt God's call to go into the ministry. He chose Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He served an internship at Advent Lutheran Church which was notorious for marrying off their young women to intern pastors. Robert was determined not to fall victim to their matchmaking, but was delighted to make the acquaintance of a young choir member named Joan MacLean. May 1955 was a busy month for Robert. He graduated from seminary, was ordained as a minister and married the love of his life, Joan. They moved together to Wilmington, Delaware where Pastor Grochau had started a mission congregation, St. Philip's. Their three children; Deborah, Kevin and Robert were born and baptized in Delaware. Pastor Grochau's next call was at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the middle of the Civil Rights movement and the church was experiencing "white flight." Pastor Grochau created controversy when he made it clear that all people regardless of race were welcome at his church. In 1971, Robert moved his family again, this time to start another mission congregation, Living Word, in the planned city of Columbia, Maryland. After three years there, Pastor Robert decided to take some time off for travel and study. Then he took a part time teaching job at Gettysburg Seminary. He enjoyed teaching, but eventually decided to accept a new call. During the bicentennial summer of 1976, he moved his family across the country to Orinda, California where he was pastor of Shepherd of the Valley for ten years. He accepted his last call at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in Monterey and eventually retired there becoming pastor emeritus. Robert E. Grochau's wife for 54 years, Joan; sister, Suzanne; and his parents, Leslie and Edna, preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother, Gordon (Marlene); brother-in-law, Jim; sister-in-law, Pat; daughter Deborah (David); sons Kevin (Mary Ellen) and Robert; grandsons, Zachariah and Augustus; granddaughter, Faith (Gregg); and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. His ashes will be interred with those of his wife, Joan, at Mission Memorial Park in Seaside, California. A memorial service will be held at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, 52 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 15, 2016. Memorial gifts may be given to St. Timothy Foundation, The Rev. Robert and Joan Grochau Fund, 52 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA 93940.
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Mission Mortuary - Monterey
Being centrally located on the Monterey Peninsula and adjacent to the San Carlos and Monterey City Cemeteries, Mission Mortuary has been the premier funeral home choice for Monterey and the entire Monterey Bay Peninsula for many years. Mission Mortuary opened its doors in 1946 at a location on Munras Avenue in Monterey and moved to our current location on Camino El Estero in 1952. While times certainly have changed, Mission Mortuary has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of our families....
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