Groe, Elizabeth (1909-2011)

GROE, CORNELIUS, SERSLAND, JOHNSON, HALVORSON, PETERSON, HOVEY, MEIERDING, LANGE, THOMPSON, ORDWAY, NIELSEN, SJOBERG, VANDAL

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/29/2011 at 15:55:32

Elizabeth Groe
(January 2, 1909 - June 18, 2011)

Elizabeth Groe, age 102, died Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills, Iowa.

Elizabeth (Cornelius) Groe was born on January 2, 1909, in Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Conrad and Carrie (Sersland) Cornelius. She was baptized at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, Iowa, and later confirmed at Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills. Elizabeth attended Tenold Country School and went on to attend Joice High School.

On May 22, 1932, Elizabeth married Alfred Groe. The couple lived in rural Northwood where Alfred farmed and Elizabeth made their house a home.

Elizabeth was a caring and selfless person her entire life, devoting her time and talents to her family, her church, and the community whenever possible. For her family, she enjoyed baking, canning, gardening, sewing, and she was always willing to open her home to others. At Sion Lutheran Church, Elizabeth was a longtime Sunday school teacher and the church organist. She served on the Sion Lutheran Church parsonage committee and made countless quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Serving the communities she loved, Elizabeth actively participated on the Lutheran Retirement Home Auxiliary Board in Northwood, joined the Sons of Norway, shared her talent for rosemalling with many, and had an infectious laugh that surrounded her gentle spirit.

Survivors include four children, Crystal (Donald) Johnson, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Comer (Audrey) Groe, of Lake Mills, Iowa, Esther (Ronald) Halvorson, of Joice, Iowa, and Marilyn Peterson, of Annandale, Minnesota; a son-in-law, Joseph (Phyllis) Hovey, of Mondovi, Wisconsin; her grandchildren, Sheryl Johnson, Eldon Johnson, Jorun (Paul) Groe-Meierding, Amos (Marna) Groe, Christma (Todd) Lange, Jeanette (Scott) Thompson, Eric (Linda) Hovey, John (Michelle) Hovey, Linda (Greg) Ordway, Lori Halvorson, Lonna (Daniel) Nielsen, Lee (Dana) Halvorson, Holly (Dennis) Sjoberg, Heidi (Lawrence) Vandal, and Matthew Peterson; thirty-one great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter, Lily Elizabeth Hovey; a sister-in-law, Wilma Groe, of Burlington, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and extended relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents Conrad and Carrie; her husband, Alfred; her daughter, JoAnn Hovey; her son-in-law, Gordon Peterson; and three brothers and their wives, Ole (Myrtle) Cornelius, Henry (Thelma) Cornelius, and Reuben (Helen) Cornelius.

She is a gift to all of us who now remember her.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Burial will take place in the Sion Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Monday, June 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2011, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

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