Mark Grote, age 66 of Lake View, IA, formerly of Wall Lake, IA, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, IA. Mark Anthony Grote was born on July 7, 1958, to parents Anthony “Tony” and Janet (Meyer) Grote in Carroll, IA. He grew up in Wall Lake and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he was both baptized and confirmed. Mark attended Wall Lake Elementary School and graduated from Wall Lake High School with the class of 1977. Following graduation, Mark set off to join the United States Army. It was during his physical for the Army that his first occurrence of cancer was discovered, thus ending his eligibility. Mark was treated immediately and has remained in remission ever since.
Mark worked in Storm Lake, IA, for a few years after graduating high school. He then moved to Estherville, IA, and worked as a Certified Nurse Aid. Mark loved his job and continued working as an Aid until his health started to decline in 2004 and he was diagnosed with COPD. In 2008, Mark moved back to Lake View and lived with his sister, Candace. His health slowly continued to decline and in 2016 he became a resident at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View. In 2023, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and started treatment that controlled it quite well. He got to know everyone at the care center and loved being involved in the different activities there. He served as president of the Resident Council and loved being the Bingo caller. On May 23, 2024, Mark wrote this on his Facebook page: Had another of our national Bingo days again, every Thursday, and I really enjoy that the residents love having me call Bingo for them—it is just an honor to help out where I can. We all have so much fun. It is my pleasure to be able to bring joy and happiness to them that they richly deserve. My only hope is that when I am gone, this hour which has been so great every week, that YOU find a way to bring that same LOVE, JOY, and HAPPINESS and carry it forward!! Pray, have faith, be kind, and love. Mark was such a kind, positive, and thoughtful human being. He always did what he could to make others feel good and just genuinely cared about other’s feelings. He loved spreading positivity and often reminded others of just how blessed we all are. He was good about writing his thoughts down and wrote many poems that he would also share on Facebook.
Mark was a sports enthusiast. The guy could tell you stats on so many players and teams, both local and national alike. He would even take stats while watching baseball on TV. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. When Caitlin Clark came along, he started watching women’s college basketball and then of course very quickly became an Indiana Fever fan after she was recruited. Mark was also a NASCAR fan and especially liked cheering for #4 Kevin Harvick. When he wasn’t caught up in sports, Mark liked to go fishing and he rarely turned down a nice cold beer.
The world needs more people like Mark in it. His positivity was contagious and his genuine care for how others felt inside was second to none. He will be missed deeply by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his sister, Candace Robbins of Perry, IA; stepmother Sharon Grote of Fonda, IA; nieces and nephews: Matt (Suzzette) Robbins, Michelle Robbins, Alissa Reinert, Josh Reinert, and Cody (Kim) Reinert; several great-nieces and nephews; aunts Pat Johnson of Omaha, NE, Luella Wilwerding of Defiance, IA; and Lois Grote of Wall Lake, IA; uncles Mike Grote of Wall Lake, IA, and Walt (Kathy) Grote of Wall Lake, IA; other extended family members and friends.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Tony Grote; mother Janet Grote; sister Carma Reinert; brothers Grant Ranniger, Travis Grote, and Clint Grote; several aunts, uncles, and both maternal/paternal grandparents
