GROVES, Grace 1916-2007

GROVES, SMIT, ENGELKES, CORDES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/27/2014 at 13:33:55

Grace Martha Groves, 90, of St. Petersburg, Florida, died Friday, January 19, 2007, at North Rehabilitation Center, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Memorial services will be 1:30 P.M., Saturday, September 22, 2007, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, rural Wellsburg, Iowa, with Pastor Gary Burkhalter officiating. Inurnment will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Wellsburg, Iowa.

Grace was born September 29, 1916, in Rushmore, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Martha (Engelkes) Smit. Her mother passed away when Grace was four years old. She had two sisters and one brother-Elaine, Florence and Marvin that were separated to other family members until Grace's father married again in 1922 to Grace Cordes. To that marriage four children were born, Alma, Merle, Gerald (Red) and Carol Ann. She attended rural country school in Stout, Iowa. In 1936, Grace graduated from the Iowa Falls High School. She then enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp in 1943 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. In 1944 she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, and resided there until her death. On January 1, 1949, Grace was united in marriage to James W. Groves in St. Petersburg. He had three children by his first wife who passed away in 1945; James A., William T., and Marian Judith. Grace had a child of her own to add to the family, Tague Glenn Armstrong. This marriage produced four more children; Jo Ann, Jon, Patte and Timothy. She was a loving and caring mother to all the children, bringing all the families together as one just as her own family had been. Her husband was a fishing guide and with a large family, she had to work sometimes two jobs to make ends meet. She instilled these values in all of her children of hard work and caring for one another. Grace made sure that her family was raised in the Lutheran Church growing up. Grace was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her greatest accomplishment was being able to buy her own home in 1964, instead of renting. She loved to garden; roses and orchids were her favorites. She was also known for her baking skills. Every birthday or holiday she made cakes and even took cake decorating classes to make them look professional.

She is survived by three sons- Tague Armstrong and his wife Beverly of Port S. Lucie, Florida; Jon S. Groves and his wife Cathy of Parker, Colorado; Timothy H. Groves, St. Petersburg, Florida; two daughters Jo Ann Kelsheimer and her husband Terry of Lemoore, California; Patte Sue Garrett and her husband Phil of St. Petersburg, Florida; two stepsons- James A. Groves of Vancleave, Mississippi; William T. Groves and his wife Pat of Jacksonville Beach, Florida; one stepdaughter Judi Hopkins of St. Petersburg, Florida; two sisters Alma Ostrander of Clear Lake, Iowa; Carol Ann Muller and her husband Bill of Swaledale, Iowa; twenty-one grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother Grace Smit; her husband James W. Groves; three brothers- Merle Smit, Gerald (Red) Smit and Marvin Smit; and two sisters- Florence Berfield and Elaine Gettman.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)