Lillian May Grassman

In memory of our beloved mother who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Lillian May (Ravnum) Grassman was born May, 10, 1928, to Alfred and Julia (Scarseth) Ravnum on a farm in rural Ettrick. She was baptized in her saving faith on May 27, 1928, and confirmed 14 years later at Hardies Creek Lutheran Church. After marriage, she faithfully served her savior at First Lutheran Evangelical Church in La Crosse.

Lillian went to school in a one-room rural school (Glasgow) and then went on to Galesville High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and received her Master’s Degree from Winona State University. Lillian taught first grade at Washburn and Emerson Schools.  She continued her passion for teaching as a tutor for many years and positively impacted the lives of all she met.

On August 7, 1954, Lillian married the love of her life – Elmer Grassman. They had two children – Mark and Karla.  Throughout their life together, they shared travels to interesting places - seeing the Panama Canal, Egypt, Rome, China, Israel, Austria, Germany and her ancestral home country of Norway.  Lil always had home-baked goodies at the house for their frequent guests and friends. Her classical Norwegian sandbakkels, goro, rommegrot, and even lutefisk and lefse filled many tummies!

Lil loved her grandchildren and always had a smile and kind word for them when they visited. And they were always first on her mind when discussing family life.

Throughout their life together, Elmer and Lil were never far apart. So too in death. Elmer leading the way on June 4 ^th and Lil, needing to be by his side, leaving us ten days later.  She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Evelyn and Verna, her brothers, Norman and Earl, and her parents. Three beloved nieces also preceded her in death – Jane Ravnum Niesen, Paula Severson Miller and Mary Stellick Boutch.

Lil is survived by her son, Mark (Michelle Collins) and their two children, Anna Grassman (fiancé Charlie Hoffman) and Emma Eldridge (Gabe); and daughter, Karla (Scott) Proksch and their children Chaille and Helen Proksch; and many nieces and nephews.

God saw that she was special
And with Him she should be.
So He put his arms around her
And whispered, “Come with Me”.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest.
God breaks our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

A visitation for the general public will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 20 ^th , at First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse.  A private funeral service for family and selected friends will begin at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Richard Pamperin officiating.  A livestream of the service will be available on the Schumacher-Kish Facebook page.  Following the service, Lillian will be laid to rest next to Elmer in Oak Grove Cemetery.  The family asks that anyone attending the visitation or the service please wear a facial covering while in attendance.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Bethany-St. Joseph Care Facility. There are too many to list but know that your loving care and support of mom was so special. We are lucky to know each of you.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials of your choice to First Evangelical Lutheran Church; Hardies Creek Lutheran Church, or the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.