Groen, Peter J. 1917-2004

GROEN, VANES, DYKSTRA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/2/2013 at 14:49:20

Siouxland Press of March 10, 2004
PETER J. GROEN, 87, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Saturday afternoon, March, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. A memorial service was held Wednesday, March 10, at 11am in the Sanctuary of First Reformed Church of Sioux Center . with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment was held prior to the memorial service in Newkirk Cemetery of rural Hospers, Iowa. A family prayer service was held at 9:30am on Wednesday in the Chapel at First Reformed Church.
Visitation was held Tuesday from 2pm to 8pm, with the family present from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, Iowa.The Family requests memorials be direct to CHEARS Home Health & Hospice.

PETER JACOB GROEN was born February 3, 1917, at Sheldon, Iowa to Peter and Tillie (Van Es) Groen, Sr. Peter grew up on the family-farm attending country school. As a young man Pete enlisted in the US Army Air Corp. Pete was a ember of a Military Police unit during World War II. He was stationed in Washington DC and for a time in Bermunda.

On August 8,1946, he married Minnie Charlotte "Micky" Dykstra at Parsons, Kansas. She preceded him in death on May 25, 2003. They lived in Chicago .for a year before moving to Newkirk, where they operated the Newkirk Grocery Store for ten years. They then moved to Sioux Center, where they operated the Siouxland Motel for a short time, before moving to Blue Earth, Minnesota, where they operated the Beacon Motel for 17 years. Since 1974, they made their home in Sioux Center. Pete was semi-retired keeping busy driving bus for Hope Haven and later the Sioux Center Community School. Pete was a member of the First Reformed Church.

His two favorite activities were playing cards and golfing. He also bowled regularly while living in Blue Earth. Pete also loved spending time with his
grandchildren.

Survivors include his three daughters, Twila Groen of Centennial, Colorado; Peggy and her husband, Kurt Rischmiller of Winsted, Minnesota; and Laura and her husband, Frank Regnerus of Sioux Center; six grandchildren, Nathan, Justin & Lauren Regnerus and Alex, Nikki & Jacob Rischmiller. Pete is also survived by brother and sister-in-law, Gerrit and Bev Lyftogt of Phoenix, Arizonia; sister and
brother-in-law, Anna and Marcus Kreykes of Sheldon; sister-in-law, Marian Groen of Des Moines along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Micky he was preceded in death by two sons, Gary and Peter Groen; three rothers: John Lyftogt, John Groen, Wilbur Riemersma and two sisters: Matilda Hyink and Hattie Tensen.