Deborah Anne Grout

Deborah Anne Grout, 77, of Newton died on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Park Centre in Newton. A celebration of her life will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service and again after the service with a lunch at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation, the Salvation Army Food Pantry, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, or Magical Mix Kids (an organization that takes chronically and terminally ill children from the Cedar Valley, Iowa area to Disney World) may be left at the funeral home.

Deb, the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth “Betty” (Thoren) Grout, was born on October 21, 1948, in Newton. She graduated from Newton High School in 1966 and then the University of Iowa where she would receive a degree in Psychology. After graduation, Deb moved to Boston and worked in Public Relations at WBZ-TV. She then moved across the county to San Francisco and worked at Mother Jones Magazine. Her next move was to Portland where she would live and work for most of her adult life. She spent time as a House Mother at a Juvenile Delinquency Home and had a 30-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring at the age of 55 in their Consumer Affairs division. In 2020, Deb moved back to Newton.

Deb used her huge heart to support many charities throughout the years, read to the blind as part of Oregan Public Broadcasting, hold and nurture babies at hospitals and orphanages, and love and care for animals and pets. She always had an interest in current politics and the arts.

Deb is survived by her brother Jamie Grout (Lynette Baker) of Newton and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Lindsey; and her maternal and paternal grandparents.