Elizabeth McGrath

BROOKLYN - Elizabeth “Lisa” McGrath of Brooklyn, Wis., formerly of Prairie du Chien, Wis., passed away on Friday, Oct. 26, 2023, surrounded by family at St. Mary’s Hospital after a courageous fight against triple negative breast cancer.

Lisa was the ninth child born to Patricia (Phillip) and Clifford Wachuta. Lisa grew up on a farm near Prairie du Chien beginning her lifelong love of farms, animals and the great outdoors. Lisa graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1983. She briefly attended veterinary tech school before marrying Edward “Ed” McGrath on Dec. 10, 1983. Lisa and Ed were blessed with two children, Megan and Clifford “Cliff” McGrath. Lisa and Ed had 28 years together until Ed passed away in 2011.

Lisa and Ed spent the early years of marriage farming in the Gays Mills and Mount Hope areas. Lisa continued her education and after a few years her career moved them near Madison. After 30 years of service, Lisa retired from UW System Administration where she worked as a systems data analyst.

Lisa’s love for nature and the outdoors was a constant throughout her life. She enjoyed outdoor pursuits of all kinds, hiking, canoeing, skiing, camping. She loved sharing the outdoors with her family, instilling a love of nature in her children by taking her children and many nieces and nephews camping and hiking when they were young, taking her grandchildren out on adventures before they could walk. She loved Sunday hikes with her son and his daughters. She backpacked the mountains of Alaska with her daughter and family and bikepacked the Bourbon trail with her partner, Aaron. She was an avid Geocacher finding her 10,000th Geocache this past summer.

Lisa was adamant about leaving the world better than she found it, from picking up litter to planting wildflowers and volunteering at parks for clean-up, trail maintenance, and educational events. She religiously donated blood. Lisa was charitable, she made regular donations to a variety of organizations with different objectives, including literacy, easing suffering, and preserving nature and wild green spaces. These organizations shared one goal of making a better future.

Lisa had an insatiable curiosity and thirst for adventure which she loved sharing with friends and family. After growing up on a farm with no opportunity to travel, she spent her adult life taking every opportunity available to investigate new places. Her travels began as family road trips when her children were young. Later she traveled to Thailand with her daughter, and further international travel opportunities with the USA Tug of War team/Oregon Tuggers Tug of War club. Lisa traveled to all 50 states as well as 18 countries spanning five continents. She and her sisters deepened their bond through Geocaching road trips reaching both coasts. She was close to her in-laws, enjoying taking trips together throughout her life. Lisa always knew she could count on her good friend, Mary Jo, for a good time and adventure.

Lisa began participating in tug of war with the Oregon Tuggers in 2009. She enjoyed the competition but loved the camaraderie and international competition opportunities (South Africa, Switzerland, Sweden, and Ireland). It was through tug of war that she met her partner, Aaron Knipe of Northern Ireland at the world tug of war competition in Madison, Wis., in 2014.

Lisa has always loved animals, her house has always been full of critters, salamanders, cats, a potbellied pig, an occasional calf, and always a dog or two. She was rarely without a faithful dog by her side, Chubbles and Gemma were her primary adventure companions.

She was a lifelong advocate of 4-H. She learned many skills as a member and was a leader in the Brooklyn Mighty Mites 4-H club. She continued to praise the value of the organization as she got older.

Lisa loved to celebrate, she would find holiday activities, events, and festivals around the state to participate in with family, 4th of July in Eastman, haunted houses, ice sculptures, heritage festivals and dressing up for 5K to name a few. She enjoyed cooking and baking, her Pozole, soups, mango and sticky rice, and cranberry white chocolate cookies will be greatly missed.

She took many photos at events including full family group photos every Thanksgiving and Christmas. She made yearly calendars, like a family yearbook, to keep everyone up to date on the escapades of family members near and far.

Lisa was preceded in death by her husband, Edward McGrath; her parents, Patricia (Phillip) and Clifford Wachuta; her in-laws, Mary (Ronfeldt) and Charles McGrath; and sister-in-law, Mary Knapp.

Lisa is survived by her significant other, Aaron Knipe; children, Megan (Jason Schultz) McGrath and Clifford (Andrea) McGrath; grandchildren, Gabe and Amelia Schultz, Edriana, Elainia and Edward McGrath; and siblings, Theresa (Richard Frost) Wachuta, George (Anita) Wachuta, Rita (Mike Breckle) Wachuta, Phillip (Holly) Wachuta, Mark Wachuta, Steve (Jenny) Wachuta, Valerie (Jerry Faulkner) Wachuta, and Thomas (Helen) Wachuta.

Arrangements are being made at Gunderson Oregon Funeral and Cremation Care, 1150 Park St., Oregon, Wis. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church, 651 N. Main St., Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, with visitation one hour prior at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation or the Ice Age Trail Alliance in memory of Lisa. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon

Funeral & Cremation Care

1150 Park St.

(608) 835-3515