Groetken, Elizabeth A - 1904-2006

GROETKEN, WITTKOP, NIGGEMANN

Posted By: Janet Schuldt (email)
Date: 10/17/2009 at 10:26:27

Elizabeth Groetken
Friday, August 4, 2006, LeMars Daily Sentinel, LeMars, Plymouth, Iowa, USA

Elizabeth Groetken, 101, a Le Mars native and lifelong resident, died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.

The former Elizabeth A. Wittkop was born Dec. 9, 1904, on the family farm south of Oyens in Marion Township, the daughter of John and Theresa (Niggemann) Wittkop. She grew up near Oyens and attended St. Catherine's Catholic School. Elizabeth married George D. Groetken in 1941 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Oyens. The couple farmed for a short time in Marion Township when a brain tumor was discovered in George. The couple moved to Le Mars and in 1942 George died. Mrs. Groetken has made her home in the town of Le Mars since that time.

Mrs. Groetken was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, the Christian Mother's Society, and a 50-year member of Catholic Daughters of America.

She enjoyed cooking and baking not only for her family but for friends and neighbors as well. Her favorite pastimes included working in her garden raising vegetables and flowers, and embroidering.

Survivors include a son Dennis Groetken of Le Mars; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George in 1942; three sisters: Annie in childhood, Theresa Wittkop, and Mary Neisius; and six brothers: Henry, John, George, Tony, Charlie and William Wittkop.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. today (Monday) at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Daniel Greving officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation was after 3 p.m. Sunday at the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars, where there was a Christian Mother's rosary at 4 p.m., a Scriptural wake Service at 7 p.m., and a Catholic Daughter's rosary at 8 p.m.

Pallbearers were Ross Mosher, Don Claeys, Zachariah Wurth, Kaleb Wurth, Ethan Niehus, and Aaron Niehus.