Warren H. Groff

Warren H. Groff of Brookfield passed away peacefully in hospice on December 29, 2016 at the age of 82. He was born on January 13, 1934 in Telford, PA, the son of the late Warren Ruckstuhl Groff and Blanche Hoff. In 1955 he graduated from the Millersville (PA) University. In 1961 he married Mary R. Houser of Bellefonte, PA in the Eisenhower Chapel at Penn State on the same day he received his master’s degree in education. His doctorate in educational administration was earned from Temple University in 1964.

Husband of Mary Groff, father of Bryan W. Groff (Michelle Loesch) and Sharon G. Heilman and proud grandfather of six grandsons: Zackary R. Heilman, Nicolas R. Heilman, P. Cooper Heilman, Quintin W. Heilman, Levi Widule and Bentley Groff. Brother to Elsenia Miller. Uncle to numerous nieces and a nephew.

Warren was a consultant and national lecturer for Nova Southeastern University. He taught in the public schools in Pennsylvania, served as an Assistant Dean in the College of Education at Temple University and taught doctoral seminars in high education, consulted with the American Board of Pediatrics and the Governor’s Justice Commission of Pennsylvania, served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at a private college in North Carolina, was the executive director of a consortium involving a medical college and two universities, served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at North Central Technical College for 12 years in Mansfield, OH, and was Dean of Academic Affairs at Shelby State Community College in Memphis, TN.

A longtime educator and school administrator, he was one of two faculty of the week long Snowmass Institutes on Strategic Planning in Colorado for 11 years (1980-1991). He conducted strategic planning workshops for statewide systems and for many institutions including University of Texas Medical Center in Dallas. Locally, he taught courses for the College of Business, Cardinal Stretch University and a leadership course for Marquette University. He had always been an active participant in sports, especially tennis and softball. Officiating athletic contests was a particular interest to him. He was a member of the Eastern Association of Football Officials (1968-1973). He was inducted into the Souderton (PA) Area High School’s Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

Scouting, throughout his life, was a priority to him. He was a camp counselor, a professional district executive in Philadelphia, awarded the Eagle Scout rank and the Order of the Arrow, and traveled to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Warren served in the United States Army Security Agency from 1956 to 1959 in Germany.

Natural burial will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Prairie Home Cemetery, 605 S. Prairie Ave., Waukesha. Please meet at the cemetery. Memorials are appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern WI Chapter, 620 S. 76th Street, Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214.