Wilma Jean Grote, 76 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in the Adams Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. She was born on Saturday, November 9, 1935 in Allen County, Indiana the daughter of the late Paul E. Reppert and the late Mabel M. (McBride) Reppert. She married Gerald Grote on February 14, 1998. Jean was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church & the Union Township Lions Club. She was also a previous member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Coldwater, Ohio and the VFW in Van Wert, Ohio. She served as trustee for Indiana Lions Cancer Control. She had worked at Kids First Daycare at the United Methodist Church in Decatur and had previously worked at Coldwater Community Hospital for seventeen years. Surviving are her husband, Gerald Grote of Decatur; son, Tom (Susan) Krueckeberg of Decatur; son, Barry (Edith) Krueckeberg of Hoagland; son, Jeff (Lydia) Krueckeberg of Akeley, Minnesota; step-son, Fred (Jackie) Grote of Fort Wayne; step-daughter, Mary (Rick) Huss of Decatur; step-daughter, Penny (David) Saunders of Decatur; step-daughter, Tina (Barry) Fairchild of Decatur; foster son, Gary (Deb) Marbach of Decatur; daughter-in-law, Vicki Krueckeberg-Hess of Decatur; twenty-four grandchildren; and twenty-five great-grandchildren. Preceding Jean in death were a son; Kent Krueckeberg, two brothers; Richard & Jack Reppert and one grandchild; Catie Huss. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2012 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor David Koeneman officiating. Interment will follow in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 5-8 p.m., Friday, September 7 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Preferred memorials are to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Indiana Lions Cancer Control.
