Groetken, Henry "Hinnie" 1924-2004

GROETKEN, FRANKLIN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2008 at 12:56:02

Henry Groetken

Henry "Hinnie" Groetken, 80, formerly of Sioux Cit,y died Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at The Abbey of Le Mars in Le Mars, Iowa, following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Le Mars, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Wasmer Post 241. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m., at Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Henry was born Jan. 21, 1924, on the family farm in Elgin Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, the son of Henry F. and Mayme (Franklin) Groetken. He was raised on the family farm north of Le Mars in the Struble, Iowa area. He attended rural school for four years, then attended Le Mars Central School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1943, and was stationed aboard a troop transport ship, the USS Randall.

Following his honorable discharge in May 1946, he returned to the Le Mars area and drove truck for Phil Groetken Trucking for a few years. Later, he was employed as a federal meat inspector for many years. Most recently, he had been employed aboard the Argosy Belle of Sioux City. The last year he had lived in Le Mars.

His memberships include St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. He had been a long-time member of the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, where he served as a Saturday evening Mass usher for many years. He also was a member of Veteran of Foreign Wars. Years ago, he was one of the active organizers of the Avenue of Flags in Le Mars.

In his younger years, he enjoyed competing in midget auto races. He also was a pilot and enjoyed flying and was an avid Corvette fan and had been a member and former president of the Sioux City Corvette Club.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Henry D. "Butch" and Patricia Groetken of Springfield, Mo.; a daughter and her husband, Judy and Sherman Schneider of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Edward and Marilyn Groetken of Tucson, Ariz.; three sisters, Rose Mary Deegan of Maurice, Iowa, Edna Groetken of Sioux City and Mary Alice and her husband, Fred Wylie, of Milwaukee, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Phil Groetken Sr.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 3, 2004--part of the D. Easton Obituary Collection