ROCKLAND — Kenneth A. Grover, 99, died peacefully, with family members at his side, Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at Sussman House in Rockport. Born in Augusta on March 7, 1927, he was the son of N. Merle Grover and Mildred Katharin Newton, and was raised on a dairy farm in North Augusta.

He and his three siblings learned the rewards of hard work during their early childhood when horses and humans were the only source of power on the farm. Educated in Augusta, he was a graduate of Cony High School before graduating from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine in 1947, and pursuing his engineering studies at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Though his children never heard about it, their modest Dad was the captain of the football team in high school, and was described as “Man Mountain” by the football team at MMA.

In 1949 “Ken” married his high school sweetheart, Pauline Stewart, in Augusta. Together they made their home and raised their family primarily in Vermont. Moving back to their home state of Maine in 2006, Ken and “Polly” resided together in Rockland ever since, most recently with their many friends at Bartlett Woods. In 2024 they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Ken spent his career providing engineering services to Factory Mutual Engineering Corporation, conducting risk and loss assessments of boilers and other industrial machinery over western New England and upstate New York. In their earlier family life Ken and Polly often took the family of seven on camping trips with the pop-up tent trailer that Ken and Polly built themselves. These trips frequently took them to various Vermont State Parks where many fond memories were made. Being the generous and kind person that he was, he made a concerted effort to instill a love of nature in his children, for which they are grateful.

Drawing on his engineering skills and intuitive building know-how (born of his many years growing up on the farm), in 1975 Ken and Polly conceived of and built a round stone house in East Wallingford, Vermont, constructed of field stone and wood they gathered nearby. Their dreams and goals were influenced by the back-to-the-earth movement of the 1970s and by writings of Scott and Helen Nearing. With the help of family and friends they completed the home nearly 30 years later.

Shortly after Ken's retirement, Polly joined him on a cruise around South America on the SS Britanis, a riveted hull ship built in 1932. Ken and Polly traveled extensively in their 1989 Volkswagen Vanagon, including a 17,000 mile round trip to Alaska in 1997. In his late 70’s and early 80’s Ken volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, helping build a number of homes in Thomaston.

Kenneth is survived by his children, Steven E. Grover and his wife Cathy Klein of Burlington, Vermont, Pamela G. Terry of Rockland, Dean A. Grover and his wife Nancy Grover of Huntington, Vermont, and Mary G. Waugh and her husband Bernie Waugh of Hanover, New Hampshire; grandchildren David Grover, Jess Grover, Carter Terry, Rachel Terry, Molly Grover and Henry Grover, as well as great-grandchildren, Alice Terry, Eleanor Terry, Nora Grover and Ryan Grover.

He was predeceased by his wife, Pauline S. Grover; his daughter Karen L. Grover, formerly of Raleigh, North Carolina; and his son-in-law George Terry IV, formerly of Bangor.

Ken’s family will host a gathering for family and friends to celebrate his life, Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2 p.m., at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community in Rockland.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.