(May 20, 2010)
Mary Jean (Meagher) Grosinger, 81, died May 20, 2010, in her daughter’s home, surrounded by family, after a brave struggle with cancer.
She was born near Park River, N.D., on Jan. 10, 1929. Raised by her parents, Arthur and Vivian Meagher, in Park River through high school, she then moved on to the College of Saint Catherine in St. Paul, Minn.
Mary Jean graduated with a teaching degree in home economics and took her first teaching job in Baudette, Minn. Having worked a couple of summers as a waitress at the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone, she had become very interested in the Wyoming way of life. She moved from Baudette to begin teaching in Lovell.
While working as a teacher in Lovell, she met her future husband Mark Grosinger, a decorated WWII pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. They were married Sept. 1, 1955, in Park River. They then moved to Powell, where they started their family.
They raised two sons and two daughters, all of whom graduated from Powell High School and attended Northwest College. All four children went on to graduate from college, two from UW and two from Colorado universities. Their success has been a legacy of Mary Jean’s devotion to her faith and family.
Mary Jean’s life was highlighted by raising her family, her cherished friendships, playing bridge, gardening, travel, garage sale adventures, sisterhood in P.E.O., being a grandmother and great-grandmother and devotion to her faith at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church.
Mary Jean is survived by her four children, Matthew, Mary Coats, Larry and Julie Burgener; five grandchildren, Gwen Bustos, Leah Gann, Jesse Grosinger, Veronica and Olivia Burgener; two great-grandchildren; and brother, Dr. Tom Marr.
A vigil service will be Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church. The funeral service will be Thursday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m., also at St. Barbara’s. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Broomfield and Boulder Counties, 2594 Trailridge Dr. East, Lafayette, CO 80026, or to the P.E.O. Foundation, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312.