Mary Kay (nee Rose) Grunow, 75, of Fort Atkinson, passed away March 20, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison from complications of cancer.
Mary Kay was born June 20, 1950, in Fort Atkinson to William “Bill” and Beatrice (nee Shaw) Rose. She grew up in Fort Atkinson with her parents and younger brother Steve, with happy memories of childhood days riding bikes with neighborhood friends and working at the drive in theater on Highway 18, and Harriet’s clothing store. A 1968 graduate of Fort Atkinson High School, she attended UW–Eau Claire and transferred to UW–Whitewater, where she earned a degree in Art.
In the summer of 1971 Mary Kay met Kim Grunow at UW Whitewater — a chance encounter that led to a whirlwind courtship, a proposal two weeks later, and marriage on Sept. 4, 1971. Despite her father’s misgivings, Mary Kay and Kim shared 55 happy years together. They spent their first year of marriage traveling around the state in the Wisconsin State Historical Society Historymobile. Kim’s job moved them to Iowa and Chicago before returning to Fort Atkinson in 1981.
Mary Kay worked for 25 years at the Dwight Foster Public Library, where she was known for curating a particularly thorough mystery collection and for valued friendships with coworkers. A gifted artist and devoted homemaker, she loved gardening, detailed embroidery and cross stitch, hosting craft days, baking cookies, and making many of the beautiful objects that filled her home. Smart and funny with a quick, sarcastic wit, she wasn’t a sports fan but delighted in watching the Olympics and the X Games. She loved children and elderly people and tolerated everyone in between.
Mary Kay loved planning family vacations. Summers spent camping in the 1980s and an annual week to Door County were treasured time with family and friends. Mary Kay and Kim had lifelong friendships with dear neighbors, and they raised their children together and celebrated many holidays, vacations and milestones as a large, extended family. Above all, Mary Kay was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who attended countless grandchildren’s games and meets and cherished time with family.
Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents William and Beatrice Rose; her mother and father-in-law, Eugene and Ruth Grunow; and brother-in-law Bryce Grunow. She is survived by her husband, Kim Grunow; daughters Kristin (Nestor) Silva and Anne (Jim) Glorioso; grandchildren Will, Emma and Ben Silva; brother Steve (Ann) Rose; sisters and sisters-in-law Debbie Grunow, Becky (Steve) Robinson and Donna Grunow; nieces and nephews Travis Robinson, Alicia (James) Gates, Will Emslie, and Elyse (Ezra) Pett; and great nieces and nephews Mason and Jaxon Pett, and Ellie and Brooks Gates.
The family wishes to thank Mary Kay’s medical team at UW Health Oncology, and the nursing staff and Hospice staff at St. Mary’s Hospital.
There will be no funeral service per her wishes. Memorial donations may be made to the Dwight Foster Public Library Trust in Mary Kay’s memory. She was very loved and will be dearly missed.
Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.DunlapMemorialHome.com.