Beverly Degroot

Stoughton - Beverly Ann DeGroot passed away peacefully on Monday, March 29, 2021.  She was born in Green Bay, WI on August 17, 1934 to Louis and Mabel (Belongie) Picard.  She graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1953.  On May 22, 1954, she married the love of her life, Robert DeGroot.  They were happily married for 60 years, enjoyed traveling, and were loyal Packer season ticket holders until he passed away in 2014.  Beverly was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and community member.  She cared for  others her entire life and she enthusiastically embraced and nurtured every community that she was a part of.

Beverly felt fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom.  She had time to share with her children – Lyn Instefjord (Eric), Randall DeGroot (Patty), Tina Baker, Carole Mason (Craig), Mary Gill (Tim), and Cheryl Lennon (Rob); her grandchildren - Lissa, Kai, Erik, Matt, Bob, Dan, Sam, Max, Megan, Ashley, and Holly; and her great-grandchildren – Sylas, Daelynn, Ella, Sophia, and Miller.

Beverly made time to be deeply involved in her church and community.  She welcomed and cared for people.  She was a consummate organizer and had an amazing ability to bring beauty to her home, table, and yard, as well as gifts given to others.  She loved to make others happy.  From tea parties with her grandchildren in her beautiful garden, to mending clothing for Nazareth House residents, serving meals at St Martin House, tapping Braille books for the blind, welcoming adults into the Catholic Church, participating in mission trips, being an active member of Lioness, Blue Stockings, Stoughton Garden Club, and organizing hundreds of church activities – Beverly felt that serving others was what life was all about.  Being recognized by the United Way as a 1993 Volunteer of the Year was an honor she was very proud of.  Her presence, her love, and her attention will be missed by many.

Her message to us all: “There should be no tears when I pass.  I had a wonderful life.  I leave you with a full heart, knowing my children will always be there for each other.  Know that I will be stepping up to accept what God has promised us all – life everlasting.  I’ll be seeing you.”

In addition to her children, Beverly is survived by her sister Jackie Meyers (Paul), sister-in-law Mary Lou Miller, and many other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; her brothers Orland, Wally, Henry, and Donald Picard; her sister Hilair Zimmerman; and her grandson, Dan Baker.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 9, at St. Ann’s Church in Stoughton from 10:00 AM to noon, followed by a funeral Mass.  The Mass will be live-streamed, facebook.com/saintann53589.  Please share your memories at CressFuneralService.com.  If you wish to offer a memorial, please consider a donation of time or treasure to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 754 Williamson St., Madison, WI, 53703, or any other organization that serves others.

Cress Funeral Service

206 W. Prospect Street, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244