Kenneth “Joe” Grace, 85 years old of Pleasant Prairie, WI passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on November 12, 1938, the son of the late Oliver Blackburn and Mary Elizabeth (Flynn) Grace. Joe grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Wilkinsburg High School in 1956. He studied for two years at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio while also playing football, running track, and ferrying young women into town in his 1947 “Blue Streak” Packard to make ends meet. On August 27, 1960, he married Caroline Krey at St. Boniface in Pittsburgh, PA, starting a wonderful life adventure across several states before they retired in Pleasant Prairie, WI in 2005 to be closer to their children.
Joe worked in the building industry, starting out as a manager at Totem Lumber in Pittsburgh, followed by work in sales at Kaiser Aluminum, Gerard Buildings, and Fabral Corporation. Joe’s work ethic and his “glass half full” attitude made for a rewarding and successful career. Joe also had several pastimes, including golfing and gardening, but there was no greater passion than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Parties were had for Super Bowl wins; games were recorded and analyzed multiple times; and over 92 Steeler artifacts and/or books can be found in the Grace home.
Joe was foremost a devoted and loving family man, married to Caroline for 63 years, raising three children and spoiling four grandchildren. Memories of sled riding, driving golf carts, being read The Night Before Christmas, and sailing on Lake Michigan (to name a few) will be cherished. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Caroline; daughters, Christine (Ken) Simon of St. Paul, MN and Susan Grace (Michael Brooks) of Chicago, IL; his grandchildren, Erin Simon Skoglund (Chris Skoglund), Megan Simon, Adeline Brooks, and Henry Brooks; his “Lil sis” or cousin, Elissa Gratton; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Filipiak, and his son, Joseph Patrick Grace.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon on Monday, January 22, 2024, at Proko Funeral Home in Kenosha, WI with funeral services commencing at 12:00 noon. Another service and burial will be held at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA in June.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice Alliance,
(https://www.hospicealliance.org/) or to St. Vincent DePaul in Kenosha, (https://stvdpkenosha.wixsite.com/stvincentkenosha).
