Wilfred Alexander ‘Bill’ Groves, Jr. was born Apr. 2, 1921 to Wilfred Alexander (Sr.) and Helen Gould Groves. He died Oct. 24, 2007 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Bill served with the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Obituary:
Wilfred (Bill) Alexander Groves, Jr., 86, longtime Kamrar area farmer, died Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at Crestview Senior Living. Military rites and private internment service will be at Graceland Cemetery, 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, with memorial service at First Congregational UCC, 1000 Wilson Ave., Webster City, 1:30 p.m. Rev. Howard Hunt officiating. Visitation will be at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center, 5-8 p.m., Friday, October 26.
Bill was born in Webster City, April 2, 1921, son of Wilfred A. and Helen Alexander Groves. He was educated in the Kamrar and Grand View grade schools and graduated from Lincoln High School, Webster City, in 1938. He attended Webster City Junior College and Iowa State College.
On May 25, 1942, he married Jeanette Hathway McCauliff. In November 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 37 months during World War II.
He and Jeanette farmed in the Kamrar area until retirement in 1986. Their farm was named a Century Farm in 1973. Jeanette died March 7, 1977.
Bill Groves is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Wilfred III (Will) and Marjorie of Jewell, and George and Galene of Kamrar, and daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Delbert Shepard of Urbandale; granddaughters Menlee (Fritz) Hicks, Krista (Ryan) Stibal and Samantha Groves; grandsons Nicolas and Jackson Groves; great-grandsons Curran and Alex Hicks and Benjamin Stibal; great-granddaughters Lily and Faith Hicks and Livia Stial; brother and sister-in-law James and Mary Groves of Wellsville, New York; sisters-in-law Donna Groves and Sue (Frank) Culbertson of Webster City; and special friend Virginia Veach of Webster City.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard (Dick) and grandson Bryce Shepard.
During his long career, Bill was actively involved in the community. He was elected to the Hamilton County Hospital Board of Trustees, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, and the Hamilton County Fair Board. He was a charter member of the Kamrar Lions Club. He was a member of the county Beef Producers and served as president of the county Pork Producers Association and the Pleasant Hill Community electric utility line.
Bill was a 10-year 4-H club leader and county swine project leader for five years. He was a director of the Farmers National Bank (now First American Bank) for 22 years and a member of American Legion Post 191, Hospice, Webster City Community Theater, and Webster City Community Chorus. He served two terms as a Hamilton County FHA committee member.
He and his brother Dick were named Iowa Master Swine Producers in 1961 and received the Iowa Master Farmer Award in 1984.
He was a life-long, active member of the First Congregational UCC in Webster City, serving in many capacities, including Trustees, Evangelism Board, Stewardship Committee and Sunday School teacher.
Memorials may be given to Hospice, the 4-H Foundation or the Hamilton County Fair Foundation.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Oct. 25, 2007
