Kenneth W. Grassley

July 16, 1939 - February 6, 2021

Kenneth W. Grassley, age 81 of Monroe, passed away at 1:14 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2021 in his home. He had been in declining health for several years. Born on July 16, 1939 in Monroe, Ken was the son of the late Henry and Marcella (Wood) Grassley. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1958 and married Nancy Greening. Ken later married Shirley Mae (Krug) Kolver on June 18, 1988 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Ken retired from North Star Steel in 2001 after 21 years of employment. He previously worked several years at La-Z-Boy and Monroe Piston Service. Ken was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waltz, MI where he served as an Elder and member of its Men’s Group. He was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Holy Ghost Lutheran Church. Ken was also a member of Dundee Sportsman’s Club where he enjoyed competitive rifle and pistol league shooting. Ken was instrumental in starting the mounted police program through the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. He also enjoyed woodworking, and, with his wife Shirley, they enjoyed going on cruises, riverboat cruising, and traveling. Their most memorable destination was their visit to Israel. Ken is survived by his wife Shirley; five children: Charles (Carla) Grassley of Commerce Township, William Grassley of Ida, Audra Spaulding of Taneytown, Maryland, Rebecca (Bryan) Smith of Wyandotte, and Michael Kolver of Kansas, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Alexa, David, Dylan, Jacob, Ethan, Kendra, and Ava; three great-grandchildren: Riley, Jackson, and Elsie. In addition to his parents, Ken was also preceded in death by an infant sister, Florence Minnie Grassley and two brothers, Henry and Herbert Grassley. Family and friends may visit from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bacarella Funeral Home. Visitors are politely reminded to follow facial covering protocol while in the funeral home. Ken will lie in state at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waltz where services will be held at 11 a.m. The church pastors, Rev. Jeffrey Wade and Rev. Kyle Jones will officiate. Graveside services at Gethsemane Cemetery will be privately attended by the family. For anyone wanting to make a donation in memory of Ken, the family suggests supporting St. John’s Lutheran Church West Wing Debt Fund, St. John’s Lutheran School Tuition Assistance Fund, or St. John’s Ladies Aide.