Mary Ann Groh

Mary Ann Groh, 88, of Bay View Beach in Crystal Lake, passed away in the early morning hours of August 31, 2026.

Mary was born February 6, 1938, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, to George and Anita Brown, the third oldest of nine children. When her father died while Mary was in eighth grade, she left school to work and help her mother care for and raise her younger siblings. From a young age, Mary understood the importance of family, hard work, and taking care of the people she loved.

She met Richard while working at a friend’s family resort, where Mary was in charge of the boat rentals and Richard came to work in landscaping and lawn care. The two were married on Mary’s birthday, February 6, 1957, in Elkhorn.

In 1962, Mary and Richard moved to Bay View Beach in Crystal Lake, where they happily made their home and built their life together.

A tomboy at heart, Mary loved fishing with Richard, despite one small problem: she was terrified of being in a boat because she couldn’t swim. That certainly didn’t stop her, though, and she went anyway.

Mary also worked for Oak Industries in Crystal Lake. She was a fun, hardworking and genuinely terrific lady who will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anita Brown; and her siblings, Kenny, Howard, George, Vivian, Betty, and an infant sibling.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; and her sisters, Janet and Ginny.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 4 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 7 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.