Molly Kathryn Grow

Molly Kathryn (Higgins) Grow was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on Oct. 14, 2024.

Molly was born Aug. 12, 1960, in Green Bay, WI, to Eugene and Margaret Mary (Rumbach) Higgins, the sixth of their eight children. She married Mike Grow on January 12, 1991, and two became a family of four when they happily welcomed sons Sam in 1992 and Ben in 1998.

 A devoted and beloved wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and co-worker, Molly had these little ways of letting those around her know they were loved. You could often find her flashing “I love you” fingers to her two boys, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was a master of the art of being present, and could brighten any room with her smile. When help or a listening ear was needed, you could count on Molly to be there. 

Full of fun, Molly loved a good game of cards (which she usually won!), dominoes and cribbage matches, vacations with Mike and the boys, weekend getaways with her sisters, bingo outings with her brothers, and her years of being a Xavier Hawks football mom. Her happy home was welcoming and usually “dressed up”, decorated for the various holidays or with the many angels she received over the years. 

Molly enjoyed a 35+ year career serving as the in-house wire and cable expert at Electroline, Inc., the company her father founded. Both customers and vendors missed her greatly when she retired in 2021. Her co-workers became a second family and, even after retirement, Molly could be found calling bingo at company gatherings. A joyful giver, Molly served her St. Mary family and the Xavier Catholic Schools, from which she (Class of ’78) and her sons graduated. 

Molly leaned heavily on her faith and family during her decade-plus fight to kick cancer’s butt. She found great peace from and so appreciated the many prayers offered for her during this time. Special thanks to the ThedaCare Cancer Center staff, Sarah Simon for her enduring friendship and support, and Molly’s brother Chris, with whom she shared a special bond. 

Molly will be greatly missed by her husband Mike; sons Sam and Ben; mother Margaret Mary; siblings Tim (Jonna), Jane, Glenn (Anne), Mary, Peter (Margy), Susan (Tim) Blotz, and Christopher. Higgins Family nieces/nephews: Sarah, Nathan, Casey (Juston), Lindsey, Daniel (Caitlin), Whitney, Ian, Madison, and Emerson. She is further survived by Mike’s sisters Debbie (Jim) Matteson, Diane (Gary) Streufert, and Pam (Jay) Sauberan. Grow Family nieces/nephews: Sarah (Aaron), Katie (John), Amy (Pat), Alissa (Brad), Jenna (Josh), Amanda (Joe), Jeremy, and Erin. She will also be dearly missed by her many great nieces and nephews. 

Molly was preceded in death by her father, Eugene, and Mike’s parents, Joe and Sue Grow.  

A Funeral Mass for Molly will be held on November 8, 2024 at 11 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 312 S. State St., Appleton, with Fr. William Swichtenberg officiating. Visitation at St. Mary beginning at 9 AM until the time of Mass. Visitation also on November 7, 2024 at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St. Appleton from 4-7 PM. Interment at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, 2121 Prospect Avenue, Appleton. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Molly’s memory to the St. Jude’s Childhood Cancer Research and Treatment Fund. 

You have gone no further from us than to God … and God is very near.