Roger De Grave, 88, of Luxemburg, peacefully passed away amid the love and care of his family on Friday, October 23, 2026. Roger was born on May 1, 1938, in Green Bay to Luella (Fonder) and Roland De Grave. Roger served in the United States Air Force during peacetime following the Korean Conflict: 1956 to 1960. On August 7, 1965, he and Elizabeth (Betty) Lasecki were married at St. Boniface Catholic Church in West De Pere, and the honeymoon never ended.
Roger will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Elizabeth (Betty) De Grave, of 61 years, his daughter Jodi De Grave, son Jeff De Grave, daughter-in-law Analisa (Hackmann) De Grave, and granddog Wolfie.
Roger will be remembered for his wit, humor, honesty, good nature, patience, ability to fix anything, reliability, his master card playing skills at Sheepshead, love for “cowboy music” and, of course, chasing eclipses with his best friend, Terry Quigley, recently deceased.
In addition to his immediate family, Roger is survived by his sisters Kathleen De Grave (of Pittsburg, Kansas) and Gale (Steve) Schmiedlin. Roger is also survived by many loving in-laws including Betty’s siblings Denise (Norbert) DeBeukelar, Denis (Cindy) Lasecki, and Alice Marric; brother-in-law Kip Detry; sister-in-law Diane Carter, and many caring nieces and nephews and their partners also survive Roger. Roger was preceded in death by his parents Luella and Roland De Grave; brother Gary and his wife, Pat De Grave; brother Michael (Sherri) De Grave; sisters Judy De Grave and Virginia (Gini) Detry, and brother-in-law Earl Lee.
After completing his service to the U.S. military, Roger began working at Nicolet paper mill in West De Pere. Eventually, he decided school offered a new future for his wife and young children. After completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from UW-Madison, Roger made his career as a “federal agent” (a credit union examiner and supervisor of examiners) starting in 1971, working in Chicago for the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). After several moves and a few decades later, Roger and Betty returned to Wisconsin where Roger, and eventually Betty, enjoyed retirement through traveling, watching quirky movies, playing cards, drinking dark beer, and enjoying his “commute” to the mailbox and back. Always quick with a joke or witty commentary, Roger was truly one-of-a-kind. Always pleasant, always helpful, and always finding creative solutions for anything, he is already missed in so many ways, including as a loving, caring, patient, and understanding husband, father, and friend.
A Catholic Mass will be held to remember and honor Roger on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 11:00am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church at 5930 Humboldt Road in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Father Patrick Beno will be leading the celebration of Roger’s life followed by lunch at Eddie Whipp’s after Mass. The burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in West De Pere at 11:00am on Thursday, November 5, 2026. McMahon Funeral Home, Luxemburg, is assisting the family. Online condolences can be shared at McMahonFH.com.
