Allen D. Grove

Allen “Butch” D. Grove, 88, formerly of Rothschild, died November 9, 2026 at Marshfield Clinic Sanford Health, Marshfield.

He was born March 29, 1938 to Charles and Helen (Urban) Grove of Rothschild. He was a proud graduate of the DC Everest class of 1956. He enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and served as an air traffic controller at the former Hahn Air Force Base in Germany. He spent the rest of his working career in the aviation industry: as an air traffic controller at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, and with North Central Airlines in Pellston, Michigan, Milwaukee and the Wausau and Central Wisconsin Airports. North Central morphed into Republic Airlines and eventually merged with Northwest Airlines, and he retired from their station at Dane County Regional Airport on Halloween, 1999.

He married Karen Rubow on June 25,1966 in Wausau, followed by their honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They were married 57 years until her death on April 26, 2024.

Allen enjoyed going to the cottage his dad built on Long Lake in the Harrison Hills of Lincoln County. He was an amateur radio operator, call sign KB9ZOF. Through the local radio club, he volunteered for the Special Olympics and Badger State Games cross-country ski events, and the Wausau Marathon. He also liked listening to his scanner, watching hockey and baseball, and listening to polka music, both at area polka events and at home. As Karen always said “you can’t take the airport out of the boy,” they loved going to Dairy Queen and eating their ice cream in the parking lot along the fence of the Wausau Downtown Airport. He especially enjoyed the EAA AirVenture Cup Race the airport hosts in July.

He is survived by daughters Chris (Bruce) Luebbe, Town of Reid; Patty Grove, Wausau; and nephews Mike Grove, Green Bay; and Tim (Ann Richmond) Grove, Rhinelander. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister Phyllis Grove; brother Lloyd Grove, sister-in-law Judy Grove, brother-in-law Roger Rubow, and many beloved aunts and uncles.

Allen had been under the care of St. Croix Hospice since June 2025, first at Careview Assisted Living in Weston and for the last five months at Athenian Living in Athens, a place he truly loved. The family would like to thank everyone for their outstanding care, especially his primary hospice nurse, Brenda.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 522 Adams Street, Wausau, WI, 54403. Rev. Dr. Rebecca Borke will officiate. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service, also at the funeral home. Inurnment and military honors will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following the service.

Allen loved to talk, and had the ability to converse with anyone. As Allen would wish family and friends a Merry Christmas any time of the year, memorials can be made to the Salvation Army, as well as the resident activity fund at the Athenian: 716 Caroline St., Athens, WI 54411.

Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Wausau is honored to assist Allen’s family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.brainardhelke.com.