Leo Earl Groen (1923-2007)

GROEN, SMITH, NELSON, THORN, DEBOER

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

A memorial service for Leo Earl Groen was conducted on September 22, 2007, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley, Iowa. Rev. Jeff Filkins officiated. Inurnment was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Leo Earl Groen, the son of Earnest and Hattie May (Smith) Groen, was born at Ashton, Iowa, on February 16, 1923. He grew up in the Ashton area and attended Country School Goewey #9. The family moved to the farm west of Hartley in 1938. Leo joined the Navy in 1942.

On February 16, 1945, Leo was united in marriage to Faye Meehlhause in Worthington, Minnesota. Following their marriage, Leo owned and operated a portable feed grinding business until 1966. The couple then moved to Sioux City where Leo became a counselor and manager of the first halfway house for alcoholics in Iowa. In 1970, they moved to Sheldon, where he and Faye became distributors of "The Sioux City Journal" for northwest Iowa. In 1972, the couple started traveling to Arizona to spend the winters due to Leo's poor health and did so until 1996. They have resided full time in Hartley since then.

Leo enjoyed playing several card games including thirty-one and his favorite, cribbage. He also loved being with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leo passed away September 19, 2007 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City at the age of 84 years, seven months and three days, with his family at his side.

Leo is survived by his wife of 62 years, Faye of Hartley; their children: Sandra Kay (Donald) Nelson of Hartley, Kenneth Lee (Cindy) Groen of Anderson, Indiana, Donna Faye (Brad) Thorn of Sutherland, Alan Earl (Garland) Groen, Kevin Dale (Marcia) Groen of Hartley; grandchildren [names redacted], twenty-one great grandchildren, a sister, Alice DeBoer of Hartley, and numerous other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Richard, Erwin, and Arthur, and a grandson, Michael Nelson.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 27 Sep 2007, p4