GRACE DEISSLER KING Was born June 29, 1925 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, to William and Grace Ethel Deissler. She had a sister Lillian who was five years older and a brother William Jr., three years older, both of whom have predeceased her. She graduated from Springfield, PA High School in 1943 with honors, lettering in hockey, basketball, track and acrobatics. Grace graduated from Bucknell University in 1947 where she was Editor of the yearbook , a Member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and played varsity field hockey, basketball, and volleyball. Grace achieved the distinction of being appointed to the Mortar Board (with pin). In addition she was chosen by the University to live with five outstanding seniors in Honor House and amazingly has kept in touch with all of them for seventy years. She majored in Psychology & Sociology, appeared in Who's Who Among American College & University Students and graduated Cum Laude in 1947. Grace immediately went to work for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Assistance near Norristown as a social worker. In 1950 she married Dr. Heinz Gronau, moved to Middletown., Connecticut and had three children; Kurt, Gwen and Gail. Grace was active in community affairs, including volunteering at the State Mental Hospital as well as being a Member of AUW and the League of Women Voters. In Middletown, as part of the work she did with the State Mental Hospital, Grace provided a home for two women as a "nanny" to her young children--a testament to her commitment to mental health and bettering her community. In 1965 Grace and her family moved to Honolulu, HI. She returned to work as a social worker with the State of Hawaii, where she worked on welfare and child abuse cases. In 1967 she was chosen to be one of four social workers to be in the first child protective services unit. In 1970, while working for the State, she was honored with a stipend to return to higher education at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa where she received a Masters in Social Services, graduating Cum Laude two years later. Grace was divorced in 1972 and later married Leonard King. In 1977 she transferred to the State's Department of Education to work as a School Social Worker and retired in 1980. During her lifetime she travelled extensively throughout the world, but remained in Honolulu, Hawai'i where she was very happy with Leonard, her children and grandchildren (and one great-grandchild). Grace was pre-deceased by Leonard King in 2007 Grace is survived by her three children, The Hon. Kurt A. Gronau, Gwen Pacarro and Gail E. Brown; five grand-children; Jason ("Kahi") Pacarro, Noel Pacarro Brown, Amanda L. Gronau, Steven and Emily Brown and her great-grandchild, Gabriel A. Brown. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Elk's Club Waikiki. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m. and ashes will be scattered thereafter.
GRACE DEISSLER KING Was born June 29, 1925 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, to William and Grace Ethel Deissler. She had a sister Lillian who was five years older and a brother William Jr., three years older, both of whom have predeceased her. She graduated from Springfield, PA High School in 1943 with honors, lettering in hockey, basketball, track and acrobatics. Grace graduated from Bucknell University in 1947 where she was Editor of the yearbook , a Member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and played varsity field hockey, basketball, and volleyball. Grace achieved the distinction of being appointed to the Mortar Board (with pin). In addition she was chosen by the University to live with five outstanding seniors in Honor House and amazingly has kept in touch with all of them for seventy years. She majored in Psychology & Sociology, appeared in Who's Who Among American College & University Students and graduated Cum Laude in 1947. Grace immediately went to work for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Assistance near Norristown as a social worker. In 1950 she married Dr. Heinz Gronau, moved to Middletown., Connecticut and had three children; Kurt, Gwen and Gail. Grace was active in community affairs, including volunteering at the State Mental Hospital as well as being a Member of AUW and the League of Women Voters. In Middletown, as part of the work she did with the State Mental Hospital, Grace provided a home for two women as a "nanny" to her young children--a testament to her commitment to mental health and bettering her community. In 1965 Grace and her family moved to Honolulu, HI. She returned to work as a social worker with the State of Hawaii, where she worked on welfare and child abuse cases. In 1967 she was chosen to be one of four social workers to be in the first child protective services unit. In 1970, while working for the State, she was honored with a stipend to return to higher education at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa where she received a Masters in Social Services, graduating Cum Laude two years later. Grace was divorced in 1972 and later married Leonard King. In 1977 she transferred to the State's Department of Education to work as a School Social Worker and retired in 1980. During her lifetime she travelled extensively throughout the world, but remained in Honolulu, Hawai'i where she was very happy with Leonard, her children and grandchildren (and one great-grandchild). Grace was pre-deceased by Leonard King in 2007 Grace is survived by her three children, The Hon. Kurt A. Gronau, Gwen Pacarro and Gail E. Brown; five grand-children; Jason ("Kahi") Pacarro, Noel Pacarro Brown, Amanda L. Gronau, Steven and Emily Brown and her great-grandchild, Gabriel A. Brown. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Elk's Club Waikiki. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m. and ashes will be scattered thereafter.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
