Grootes, Meiert “Merrit,” 1892-1947

GROOTES, BRINKHUIS, CRIPPEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

From the Rock Valley Bee, October 23, 1947:

Former Resident Dies at Idaho Home

A telegram received by C. A. Walhof on October 17 from Mrs. M. Grootes at Twin Falls, Idaho, stated that Dr. Merrit Grootes had passed away that morning. He will be remembered by many of the local folks as the son of the late P. D. Grootes, who formerly operated the hardware store now owned by the Vander Wells.

Dr. Grootes had been a resident of Twin Falls, Idaho, for many years and was city meat inspector at that place and operated a small animal hospital there. He leaves him surviving his wife, his mother and three sisters, all residents of Twin Falls county, Idaho.

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From the Twin Falls, Idaho, Times-News, October 17, 1947:

Death Takes Dr. Grootes, 54, at Home

Dr. Merritt Grootes, 54, local veterinarian, died at 4:35 a.m. Friday at his home, 344 Seventh avenue north, following a lingering illness. Dr. Grootes had been a resident of Twin Falls since 1924.

He was born in Sioux county, Ia., on Dec. 15, 1892. A graduate of Rock Valley, Ia., high school in 1910, and the Chicago Veterinary college in 1914, he practiced his profession in Minnesota and Iowa before coming to Idaho.

He was the Twin Falls city meat and dairy inspector from 1924 to 1928. He opened his hospital on Shoshone street in 1928. A veteran of World war I, he served in the 12th veterinary hospital unit. He was a captain in the Idaho national guard and the Idaho home guard, and a member of the American Legion and the sheriff’s mounted posse of Twin Falls. He belonged to the Community church, Hansen.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Sue Ann Grootes; three sisters, Mrs. Marie Bloem, Jerome; Mrs. Pete Mulder, Hansen; and Mrs. Howard Johnson, Kimberly; his sister-in-law and nurse, Mildred Rittler, Twin Falls; six nephews and one niece.

The body rests at the Twin Falls mortuary. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has Meiert Grootes, born December 15, 1892 in Sioux County, Iowa; parents P. D. Grootes and Celia Brinkhuis, both born in Holland; wife Sue Ann; occupation, veterinarian, for 33 years; lived in Idaho 23 years; former residence Iowa; died at home, 344 7th Ave. N., Twin Falls, at 4:35 AM October 17, 1947, of pulmonary edema, due to acute coronary occlusion; buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls.

His FindaGrave.com page gives birth and death dates, cemetery, and a photo of his headstone (“Meiert Grootes DVM Dec 15 1892 Oct 12 1947”). No family information.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1917/1918 has groom Meiert Grootes, age 25, resident of Melvin, Iowa, a veterinarian, born in Orange City, parents Peter D. Grootes and Gezina Brinkhuis; bride Susie A. Crippen, age 21, resident of Melvin. born in Sanborn, Iowa, parents Dudley G. Cripen[sic] and Sarah Baldwin; married in Rock Valley October 24, 1917.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) shows him (age 24) a veterinarian in Melvin, Iowa, home address Rock Valley; tall, medium build, blue eyes, light hair. His World War II draft registration card shows him residing at 344 7th Ave. No., Twin Falls, Idaho, a veterinarian at 434 Shoshone West, Twin Falls; height 5’11”, weight 178. blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion. Peter D. Grootes (his father) is listed as the person who will always know his address.

The National Guard register for Idaho, 1939, lists him as a member of the Med Dept Det—Wilder [Medical Department Detachment?]: Capt. Meiert Grootes, born Iowa 15 Dec 92; DVM Chicago Vet Collg Ill 14 [1914]; NGUS VC [Veterinary Corps?] capt 14 Jun 34. Record of service: Pvt corp sgt V C 1 June 18 to 16 July 19; 1 lt V C 18 Oct 25 capt 11 Oct 27.

His name is given as Meiert Grootes in the 1930 census, and Merrit Grootes in the 1910, 1920 and 1940 censuses