Helen Ann Grosshans

Helen Ann Grosshans, age 90, of Baraboo, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Our House Memory Care in Reedsburg with family by her side.

Helen, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Condon) Conners was born June 12, 1934 in Baraboo. She graduated from Baraboo High School and continued on to teachers’ college. She taught in a one room school until becoming a homemaker raising her family.

In 1954 she met the love of her life, William “Bill” Grosshans; they were united in marriage on August 21, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. They made their residence in Baraboo where they raised their four children, William “Billy”, Kathleen “Kathy”, Patricia “Patty” and Dennis “Denny”. When asked later in life, why name all her children with a name ending in a ‘y’? She mentioned she felt her name was all too plain so she gave her children whimsical names.

When her children were school age, she became a nursing assistant at the Ringling Manor where she worked many years. In 1977 a job change for Bill moved them to Sheboygan. Due to an illness, Kathy moved back home where Helen became her primary caretaker. Helen dedicated the next six months to caring for Kathy until her death in 1979. At this time Helen went back to school and obtained her LPN degree. She then worked at the Sheboygan nursing home until her retirement.  In 2019 she returned to the Baraboo area to be closer to her daughter, Patty.

Helen’s love for dogs carried on throughout the years; they included, Hans, Schnapps, Fritz, Molly and Bentley that continued to be her companion in her older years as her dementia progressed.

She enjoyed volunteering for Circus World Museum and St. Joseph Catholic Church. Helen belonged to the Sauk County Historical Society, Baraboo Senior Center and St. Joseph Catholic Church for many years.

She is survived by her children Billy (Krista) Grosshans, Patty (Steve) Preston and Denny (Denise) Grosshans; eight grandchildren, Ashley (Austin), Connor (Kati), Alexandra, Jessica (Jim), Katie (Matt), Madeline (Seth), Ava, and Will; 10 great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; Bill; daughter, Kathy; and her siblings, Dorothy (Gene) Brennan, Joseph (Norma) Conners, John Conners.

A prayer service will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home with Father Paul Arinze officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made pancreatic cancer research, macular degeneration research or Catholic charities in Helen’s name.

The family would like to thank her friends at Gateway Community Gardens for keeping a close eye out for Helen in the recent years. Special thank you to the Sauk County ADRC, BrightStar, Agrace and Aveanna Home Health for their care and concern shown to Helen and her family.

Jessica, Katie and Madeline, words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude for the love you gave to Grandma, especially the last week.