Michael Groebner

Michael Groebner August 2, 1946 - October 26, 2011

Michael A. Groebner, age 65 of Janesville, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at his home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 29th at 11:00 a.m. at Arnoldt- McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville with Fr. Peter Klein officiating. Interment will be in the St. Ann Cemetery, Janesville. Visitation will be held on Friday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville and will continue on Saturday morning for one hour prior to services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Janesville Home Delivered Meal Program. Michael Albert was born on August 2, 1946 to Albert and Dorothy (Schubbe) Groebner in Waseca, Minnesota. He attended Janesville Public Schools, graduating in 1964. Mike then attended Winona State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in education, and student taught in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mike served his country in the United States Army Reserves for 6 years. Most of his working career was spent in the area of security. Mike lived his early adult life in Minneapolis, Minnesota and then relocated to a city he felt drawn to, New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent 20 years there continuing to work primarily in security operations. Mike was especially proud of his employment with the Audubon Institute/Species Survival Center in New Orleans. He returned to Minnesota a few months prior to Hurricane Katrina, and spent the last 4 years of his life residing in Janesville. Mike loved nature and animals (and was especially fond of his brother''s dog "Sammy") He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, enjoyed watching college football and basketball, and attending the local high school sporting events. Mike also enjoyed getting a daily newspaper, shopping at the Dollar Store and watching his TV''s: sports, Dr. OZ, Sunday Morning CBS, and old movies were some of his favorites. He loved starting up conversations with just about anyone! Anyone who met him knows, he would "talk your ear off". Mike struggled to overcome his challenges, but those challenges never de-railed his warm and caring soul. He is survived by his siblings; Gary Groebner of Janesville, Gayle Groebner of Minneapolis and Tom Groebner of Colorado Springs, CO; by his nephew Brandon Iams and niece Nicole Leiskau, both of Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his parents.