Alicia Jo Mcgrew

Alicia Jo McGrew, 64, of Melbourne, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at home on Sunday, October 3, 2021 under the care of St. Croix Hospice. Services for Alicia will be held on Friday, October 8 at 10:30 A.M. at New Horizons United Methodist Church in Melbourne. She will be laid to rest at Melbourne Memorial Garden. Friends and family are also invited to a visitation on Thursday, October 7 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Alicia was born February 8, 1957 in Inglewood, California to Donald Ray and Lorena Marie (Miles) Mercer. Following the untimely passing of both parents, she was welcomed into the loving home of Mervin “Buzz” and Doris Groesbeck in Klemme, Iowa. After graduating from Klemme High School in 1976, she went on to obtain her Associate’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. It was here were she met the love of her life, Paul McGrew. They were united in marriage on September 17, 1978 and lived in several different places before settling down in Melbourne. In addition to being a wonderful wife and loving mother to their six children, Alicia worked at Younkers for over 20 years and most recently dedicated several years to working at CIRSI. She loved her jobs because she truly loved taking care of people. Alicia was a member of New Horizon Church and she was involved for many years in Cub Scouts. She was an Army mom, as well as a member of the groups, Navy Moms and Marine Moms. She loved her family deeply, attending all of her children and her grandchildren’s events. She really was a mom to everyone and she enjoyed getting people together, especially family reunions. In her free time, she enjoyed playing cards and board games (and “accidentally” cheating), reading, shopping, watching movies, crafting and dancing. She especially enjoyed traveling and concerts, having attended many classic rock and country shows over the years with Paul. Having been a 10 year survivor of cancer, she really was a fighter at her core. She took part in Relay4Life and LIVESTRONG at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA. Alicia was spontaneous, life-giving and had an unforgettable smile. She was always running late and getting lost, but never let anyone down. She will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 43 years, Paul; her children: Joshua (Jacqueline) McGrew, Ariane (John) Garlock, Nathan (Jules) McGrew, Anthony McGrew, Hannah McGrew (Austin Halsted) and Serena McGrew (Trent Muller); grandchildren: Briley, Connor, Nathan Miles Jr. and Ronan McGrew; her siblings: Don Mercer, Regina (Howard) Bergman, Philip (Armi) Mercer, Rebecca Mercer, LaDonna (Berl) Wilcox, Berdean (Ron) Dolan, Myrna (Bill) Eisenlauer, Brad (Linda) Groesbeck, Cynthia Larson, Darwin (Lori) Needs, Lori (Mark) Lau, Danny Mau, Kurt Mau and Cindy Mau; brother-in-law, George Pickavet and numerous aunts, uncles nieces, nephews and cousins. In death, she is reunited with her birth-parents, Donald and Lorena; her parents, Buzz and Doris Groesbeck; sister, Teresa Pickavet; half brother, Norman Needs; her half-brother, Shawn Mercer; sister-in-law, Kit Mercer and godfather to her six children, Tracy Rosedale.