GROOTE, Grace 1878-1940

GROOTE, DIEKEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/1/2017 at 08:26:59

Mrs. E. E. Groote Died Suddenly Thursday Night

Mrs. Elso E. Groote died suddenly at her home in Grundy Center at 9:30 Thursday evening from an attack of the heart. It was believed that she was safely convalescing from a long illness and the sudden attack came without any warning and she passed away at once without uttering a word. She was 62 years old and was a lifelong resident of Grundy county.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon. Rev. K. J. Stratemeier led the family prayer service at the home and preached at the Bethany Presbyterian church on I John 1:7 and Romans 5:10-11. Mrs. Anna Kruse and Russell Kruse sang at the church service. The basement of the church was used for the large gathering who were unable to be accommodated in the auditorium. The services were carried to the basement by means of amplifiers.

Burial was in the family lot in the cemetery adjoining the Colfax Presbyterian church.

Obituary
The following obituary was read by the pastor at the church service:

Mrs. Elso Groote, nee Grace Dieken, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Heye Dieken, was born Mar. 2, 1878, in Lincoln township, Grundy county, Iowa. On April 13, 1898, she was united in marriage to Mr. Elso Groote. Two years ago they were privileged to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary.

They lived on a farm northeast of Grundy Center until ten years ago when they retired and moved to Grundy Center. Here she continued in her never wearying interest and attention to make her family circle a true home radiant with beauty and happiness. Nor did she fail in this when sickness entered the home. With untiring effort she gave her last full measure of devotion in caring for her husband when he was taken sick a year ago. By day and by night she stood ready to minister to his needs. While busy in this sacrificial devotion, she herself was stricken. On January 11 of this year she fell and incurred a fractured hip. She never fully recovered from the effects of this accident. And thus she was required to share even deeper in her husband's affliction. For weeks and months they shared the trying uncertainties of the sick room. The full nature of mutual encouragement which they exchanged with one another during these days will never be known. Suffice it to say, that quite frequently they spoke together about the great beyond and, fully resigned to the holy will of God, they looked to "the land which is fairer than day, which by faith we can see from after, where the Father waits over the way to prepare us a dwelling place there."

Together they rejoiced when the word came that they might leave the hospital and return home. All were encouraged then by the hope of her early recovery. But, after all, her condition seemed to improve only very slowly and without any warning a sudden heart attack brought her earthly life to an unexpected close at the age of 62 years and 2 months.

She was preceded in death by her son, Arthur, who passed away Nov. 21, 1936. The loss incurred is most deeply felt by the husband and father of the family, bedfast now for over a year, to whom she ministered so faithfully, counting not her life too dear to ease his affliction. Her death is also mourned by the children: Elso, Harry, William and Andrew Groote, Mrs. Alyda Engelkes and Miss Irene Groote; five granddaughters; three brothers, Jueren, John and D. H. Dieken, all of Grundy Center; one sister, Mrs. John K. Kruse of Cedar Falls; an aunt, Mrs. D. J. Dieken of Grundy Center, and many other relatives and friends.

Together with her husband, Mrs. Groote united with the Bethany Presbyterian church by letter of dismission Jan. 26, 1917, and through all these years she exercised faithfully and devotedly the privileges and responsibilities of her membership. Faithfully she attended all the worship services of the church, ready to lend a hand always to support the cause of the church in a practical way. This interest continued even though sickness at the home made attendance at the services impossible for her. With keen interest in the work she followed also the material progress of the church and had a definite part in securing for the congregation the Individual Cup Communion service recently purchased. Only last week she entrusted to the pastor her share in the annual renovation of the church.

Her children will call her memory blessed and we shall continue to think of her through all the coming years as a truly devoted wife and mother; a sincere friend, a faithful member of the church, and a devout believer in the effectiveness of Christ's redemption even as she expressed her faith in the familiar words of I John 1:7 "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from sin." Thus we are comforted, knowing: "That Life is ever Lord of Death, And Love can never lose its own."

Relatives and friends from out of town who attended the funeral services included Mrs. Dora Buse, Christina Buse, Mrs. Frank Tegels, Mr. and Mrs. William Peters, Mrs. Kraft, Mrs. Moore, all of Sac county, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. John Shotwell, Miss Annie Foss, Sioux Falls, So. Dakota; Ben Visser, Monroe, So. Dak.; Mrs. Albert Klinger, Parker, So. Dak.; Oscar Matson, Bricelyn, Minn.; Henry Asmus, Menten Asmus, Harry Asmus, Buffalo Center, Ia.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 May 1940, pg 1, 8