Kenneth G. Grosch: 1938-2025

Well done, good and faithful servant. 

Ken Grosch, 87, of Arden Hills, MN died June 6th, 2025 after a brief illness. Ken was born in Albert City, IA on February 19, 1938. He served in the Army from 1959-1961, received his BA degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University, and earned an MA degree in Business from California State College, Fullerton. In 1963 Ken married Rosalie Grangaard in the chapel at Iowa State. Together Rosalie and Ken raised two daughters, Heidi and Greta. Ken began his career in the aerospace industry and was an engineer on the first Apollo. In 1971 the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to teach in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church school. Upon their return Ken was assistant to the Bishop in the Iowa Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and later worked for a Rural Electric Cooperative. In 1981 the family accepted a call as missionaries to Lae, Papua New Guinea where they lived for five years. Ken was then hired as the first full time director of Global Health Ministries, a non-profit Lutheran agency based in MN that supports Lutheran Health Care in 17 countries. After retirement Rosalie and Ken taught in Fujung, China for one summer.  

Ken loved to putter. He took great joy in tackling projects and spent his later years building and expanding their home on Goose Lake. He looked forward to regular trips to Menards, gatherings with his woodworker’s group from church, and believed it’s better to ”have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”  Ken leaves his family a legacy of scrap lumber and other miscellaneous precious items they may never need.

A man of humor, of solid faith and an amazing problem solver, Ken was interested and interesting, collected both people and things, gave great hugs, and was always GRATEFUL. His was a life well-lived and Ken was a man well-loved. He will be missed.

Preceded in death by many loved ones, Ken is survived by wife Rosalie, son-in-law Morten, daughters Heidi and Greta, sister Delores Meissner, and a multitude of cherished family members and friends. Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, July 15, 11:00 a.m. at Incarnation Lutheran Church, 4880 Hodgson Rd, Shoreview, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service. Internment Wednesday, July 16th, 1pm at Calvary Lutheran Church, 600 Rush Point Dr, Stanchfield, MN with an ice cream social to follow. Memorials to Incarnation Lutheran Church, Global Health Ministries or donor's choice.