Joshua Grau, the son of Christopher and Julie (Healy) Grau, is a native of Elkader, Iowa. Following undergraduate and graduate college studies, he married Annette Voss, the daughter of Donald and Mary Patricia (Shekleton) Voss, of Monona, Iowa.
Following the completion of his residency at Raymond Funeral Homes in Fairfield and Birmingham, Iowa, Josh made the move back home to start working for Leonard Funeral Homes in Elkader, Elgin and Monona, Iowa, alongside Brian and Margaret Leonard. In 2008, Josh and Annette bought into the Leonard Funeral Home business, forming what is now known today as Grau Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Over the next several years, the Grau Funeral Homes and Cremation Services network of homes has expanded into multiple communities in Northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin. Josh and Annette reside on an acreage outside of Monona, Iowa, with their six children, Rose, Joseph, Clare, Julia, Emma and Leo.
Josh is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Monona, Iowa, where he is active in the church choir accompanying on the grand piano for weekend masses. He currently serves on the St. Patrick Catholic Church Finance Council and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #8178 (Monona-McGregor), where he previously served as Deputy Grand Knight and Grand Knight. Josh also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the MFL Mar Mac Community School District. He also previously served on the St. Patrick Cemetery Board, Monona Cemetery Board and is a former Catechist/Teacher for the Faith Formation Program at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Josh is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Iowa Funeral Directors Association, South West Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
In his free time, he enjoys attending his children’s multiple school activities and sporting events, spending time in Northern Minnesota at his cabin on Howard Lake, and smoking/BBQ all types of meats on his custom-built smoker. He is passionate and proud of his Irish heritage, having made several trips to Ireland to visit his ancestral homes, and enjoys celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and its festivities along with the ever-enjoyable corned beef and cabbage meal and wee bit of Irish Whiskey.
