Alvin (Al) Grossbach, 80, of Mazeppa, passed away on April 10, 2024 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Al was born May 8, 1943 in Mazeppa, MN to Elena (Goetsch) and Glenn Grossbach. He attended Mazeppa High School and went on to graduate from Winona State University in 1961. Al met his wife Janet Rodgers and they were married on November 6, 1965. Al was drafted that December into the Army where he served in Maryland until 1967. They moved to Rochester, MN in 1967 when Al started his job as a Computer Programmer at IBM. He worked there for 30 years, retiring in 1997.
Al enjoyed his time in retirement and did countless projects at the family farm and he and Janet moved out to The Farm permanently in 2008. Al was an avid collector of all things and enjoyed riding his motorcycle.
Al was preceded in death by his parents; and brother Lowell. He is survived by his wife Janet; children, Lisa Stellmaker and Teresa (Tony) Dukart; grandchildren: Brandon, Ryan, Erika, Noah, Jack, Ava; one great grandchild; sisters, Irene and Nancy; and many nieces and nephew.
A celebration of life event will be held April 27, from 1-4 pm at the Mazeppa Community Center.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the caregivers at Mayo and Mayo Clinic Hospice.
Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Minnesota, or a charity of your choice.
Teresa and Family ~ I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Sending much love to everyone.
Family,
Loved seeing Al at Northgate back in the days. Always spoke highly of his daughters. Teresa sorry for your loss.
Al was a good old friend since the ’80s when we were in neighboring offices at IBM . I kiddingly gave him a nickname of E.F. Grossbach (there was a tv ad at the time about a financial investment company, E.F. Hutton) for financial tips he had. Al and I went on a several day business trip one time out to Aptos, CA along with another coworker who took us to several delicious restaurants. Al was also the mastermind who, along with another coworker, helped solve a database customer problem back in Rochester, while I was on-site with the customer on Long Island. Boy did we celebrate when that problem got fixed! I got to see Al on occasions after retirement, and it was always good to chat and catch up. I know Al liked to motorcycle, and he especially savored moving back to rural Mazeppa to his family farm. My sincere condolences to you, Jan, and your family; he was quite a guy who will be missed. God bless you all.
Jan, I am sorry for your loss of Al. Ken always enjoyed his company, and I know they worked hard together at IB M. I am sure his appreciated all your loving care.
My sympathy and prayers to you and your family.
Dotty Willkomm
I had the pleasure of working with Al on System/34 and System/36 operating systems. My condolences to his family.
I have good memories of coffee times with Al first at Barlows and then at McDonalds. Al helped me move two China cabinets into our house and suggested proper locations. Al also helped unhook our kitchen gas stove, move to living room and then back to kitchen, rehook the gas line and test for leaks with soapy water. Al was a knowlegible person about many things and always willing to be helpful.
Al was a man faithful to his family and helpful to his friends.