Grace Mary (Smits) Van Grunsven Crabb, 96, passed away on January 2, 2024. Born on August 20, 1927 in West De Pere, Wisconsin, Grace was the youngest child of Henry and Eleanora "Anna" (Kleuskens) Smits. Grace attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School and graduated from Nicolet High School in 1945. She married her high school sweetheart, Fred Van Grunsven, in 1949. Together they had five children.

A hard worker, Grace helped tend the fields and feed the animals on her family farm. In high school, she worked at Cash Way grocery store and wrapped bandages for the Junior Red Cross war effort. After high school, Grace worked at Fort Howard Paper Company until the birth of her first child. When her youngest started kindergarten, Grace worked in the women's department at the Lee Store. After the Lee Store closed, she worked at the White Store until she retired. Grace was also a member of the Christian Mothers of St. Boniface and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Grace and Fred enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada in their motor home until Fred's death in 1988. In 1992, Grace and her sister-in-law Milly Van Grunsven made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, located in the former Yugoslavia. It was a deeply spiritual trip and something she cherished the rest of her life.

In 1994, Grace married Francis Crabb. The couple resided in the town of Lawrence and each winter flocked with their fellow snowbirds to Winter Haven, Florida, until Fran's death in 2002.

Grace was a member of St. Boniface Parish and subsequently Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. She had a green thumb and a love for walking and taking care of her health. Above all, Grace was a deeply loving and supportive mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Dan Van Grunsven, Gary (Connie) Van Grunsven, Mike (Cathy) Van Grunsven, Ann (Mark) Golueke and Carol (John) Verboncoeur. Grace is further survived by three stepchildren, Nancy (Scott Martens), Jim (Debbie) Crabb and Rick (Dawn) Crabb, thirteen grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Fred and Francis, siblings Edward Smits, Merlin Smits, Marie (Smits) Vanderheyden, Richard Smits and Rita (Smits) Janssen, daughter-in-law Joan (Landwehr) Van Grunsven and several brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins and friends.

Family and friends may visit at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1307 Lourdes Avenue, De Pere, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. James Baraniak, O.Praem. officiating. Burial will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Unity Hospice.

Grace's family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Woodside Assisted Living Villa II and Unity Hospice for their compassionate care.