Peter "Andy" Groseta

Peter Andrew Groseta passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025 at home with his family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Andy, as he was known, was born September 27, 1950 in Cottonwood, Arizona the oldest son of Peter and Katherine (Maglich) Groseta Jr.

A proud descendant of Croatian heritage he has fond memories with his grandparents Peter and Antonia Groseta Sr. and George and Anna Maglich. Whether stomping grapes for homemade wine or taking turns with cousins to rotate the lamb over a spit he cherished those childhood memories with large Croatian family gatherings. Every night before bed he would say Laku noć (good night in Croatian) to his kids and grandchildren.

Andy took pride in being the third generation in his family to ranch in the Verde Valley. He went to Clemenceau Elementary and in third grade his teacher told him, “Andy go get your Dad’s cows off the front lawn.” His favorite childhood horse was Biscuit. He was one of the last classes to attend Mingus Union High School when it was still in Jerome. FFA and his Ag Teacher were influential in his life and he served as a State FFA Officer his senior year. After graduation in 1968 he headed to the University of Arizona and received his B.S. in Animal Science as well as Agricultural Education in 1972. Upon graduation he became an Ag Teacher at Amphitheater High School and pursued his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education completing it in 1978. He loved teaching and did so for 8 years but he also began selling ranch real estate in 1978; he made it his full-time work along with managing ranches in 1980 for Western Farm Management. In 1983 he became a partner in Headquarters West and continued to be a premier ranch realtor in Arizona until his passing.

Andy met Mary Beth Meyers when she came to Tucson for a warm winter and thankfully she never returned to Montana. On one of their first dates at the ranch while headed to Prescott they had to pull a cow that was stuck in a mud tank. They wed May 10, 1980 and had three children before moving back to the ranch in Cottonwood in 1986. Together they raised kids and cattle and built a life they were proud of.

Andy had a passion for serving his community and the cattle industry. His awards and accolades are many and include: serving as the President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, President of the Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association, Chair of the Catholic Community Foundation and on the MUHS School Board. He was inducted into the Arizona Farming & Ranching Hall of Fame, has received the ACGA Cattleman of the Year Award and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Arizona.

Andy believed wholeheartedly in God being first, family a close second and then hard work. Some would even say his “love language” was hard work. He instilled in his children and grandchildren that anything worth doing is worth doing right the first time. Ever the optimist, he lived life with the approach that the glass was always half full. Once an Ag Teacher, always an Ag Teacher he would quiz his children on names of mountains, canyons and washes; in addition, he taught them about the native grasses and plants on the ranch as he rode his favorite horse, Roosevelt. He was never one to shorten a workday, but when his beloved Arizona Wildcats were playing you could find him in his recliner or in McKale cheering them on.

Known as a friend, mentor, leader but most honored to be called Husband, Dad and Grandpa he is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Beth. His three children Paul (Gretchen), Katy (Kelly), Anna (Bass) and eleven grandchildren: Jacob, Dylan, Grace, Peter, Brandy, HB, Katherine, Richard, Basilio, Andy and Perry. He is also survived by his brother George and many loving cousins.

Services to include a Rosary on July 31st at 6 p.m. and Funeral Mass on August 1st at 10 a.m. both at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 700 N. Bill Gray Road Cottonwood, AZ 86326. A lunch reception will follow the Mass and Burial at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Catholic Community Foundation Immaculate Conception Endowment Fund. www.ccfphx.org.