Grace S. Stempe

Grace Wojtecki Stempe, 88, passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center, on Friday, September 15, 2006. She was born in LaCrosse, WI, on April 5, 1918, the daughter of the late Stanley and Cecylia (nee: Sobezak) Wojtecki. She came to Racine at the age of 7. Grace attended Horlick High School. On April 6, 1940, here in Racine, she was united in marriage to Stanley Stempe. After she had her children, she started her career in the Ladies Sportswear Dept. of Goldblatts Department Store. She retired after more than 20 years of service in 1983. She enjoyed walking with the Walkers Club at Regency Mall. Grace was a longtime member of St. Lucy Catholic Church. Grace is survived b y her loving husband of over 66 years, Stanley; their children, Mary (James) Dengel of West Bend, WI, Susan (Donald) Tempesta of Racine, Jane (Cliff) Grevstad of Burnsville, MN, Nancy Cohen, and Jon Stempe, both of Racine; her 12 grandchildren, Jay (Pam) Dengel of Mankato, MN, Tracy (Dan) Stahlkopf of Oak Creek, WI, Laura (Pete) Reynolds, Lisa (Paul) Drdak, Don (Heidi) Tempesta, Michael Tempesta, Julie Tempesta all of Racine, Andrew Grevstad of Burnsville, MN, Carl Grevstad of Milwaukee, WI, Dana Grevstad of Burnsville, MN, Kristen Cohen and Ted Cohen both of Racine; her 11 great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Ethan, Will, Frances, Grace, Michael, Jacob, Ben, Austin, Allison and Alex; her sister-in-law Marcella Wojtecki of Racine. Her nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends further survive Grace. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law Lee Cohen, her brother Chester Wojtecki, and her sister Phyllis Thomas. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3035 Drexel Ave., on Tuesday, September 19th, at 6:00 p.m., with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. Visitation will be in the church on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Private internment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery – Kinzie Ave. on Wednesday. Memorials can be made to Lincoln Lutheran of Racine, Inc. The family would like to publicly thank Vitas Hospice and the 2nd Floor Nursing Staff at St. Mary’s for the care they gave Grace. They would also like to thank the staff of Lincoln Lutheran Village of Racine.