Van Gronigen, John 1900-1981

VANGRONIGEN, GROEN, OBERMAN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Source: Sioux County Capital (8-31-1981)

Born: December 26, 1900
Died: August 27, 1981

John Van Gronigen, 80, former Alton mayor and city councilman died Thursday at Orange City Municipal Hospital after a long illness.

Services were at 1:30 P.M. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Reverend David Hogan officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery under the direction of the Fisch Funeral Home of Remsen.

Van Gronigen was born December 26, 1900, at Hospers to Peter and Gertrude (Groen) Van Gronigen. His family moved to Alton when he was a child. He married Olivia Oberman on April 19, 1927, at Granville.

He was an accountant for the F.M. Slagle Lumber Company for 43 years and was later employed by the Osceola Cooperative Creamery at Sibley and in Laurel, Nebraska.

He was mayor of Alton for eight years and a city councilman for nine years. He was a charter member of the Alton Rotary Club, a member of the Alton Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Alton Building and Loan Association and the Alton Bowling Association for many years. He was also a member of the Alton Fire Department.

He was instrumental in organizing the first Alton locker plant and the Palace Movie Theater. He owned and managed the Alton and Orange City movie theaters from 1942 to 1946.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Survivors include the widow; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Joan) Matheson of Newton and Mrs. Jane Mullen of Minneapolis; six grandchildren and two brothers, Clarence of Orange City and Theodore of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Glenn; two brothers, Theodore in infancy and Richard; one sister, Mrs. Julius (Nellie) Egenes.