Obituary of Leo Groen

Leo Earl Groen, the son of Earnest and Hattie Mae (Smith) Groen, was born at Ashton, IA on February 16, 1923. He grew up in the Ashton area and attended Country School Gowey #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, MN. 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 half-way 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 passed away September 19, 2007 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, with his family at his side. 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 is survived by his wife of 62 years, Faye of Hartley. Their children Sandra Kay (Donald) Nelson of Hartley; Kenneth Lee (Cindi) Groen of Anderson, IN; Donna Faye (Brad) Thorn of Sutherland; Alan Earl (Garland) Groen of Johnston; Kevin Dale (Marcia) Groen of Hartley. His grandchildren Bryan Lee (Heather) Nelson of Hartley; Brenda Lee Groen Wiggins and Russ Roberts of Hutchinson, KS; Lori Lynn (Ken) Smith of Golden, CO; Shelly Sue Groen of Mesa, AZ; Chad Ryan Groen of Longmount, CO; Jennifer Ann (Rob) Stern of Anderson, IN; Danielle Denae (Fred) Welsh of Raleigh, NC; Brent Scot (Kristin) Thorn of Hartley; Jason Lee (Lisa) Thorn of Ankeny; Jeffrey Lee (Kari) Thorn of Sioux City; Eric Alan (Andrea) Groen of Scottsdale, AZ; Alex David Groen of Houston, TX; Blake Matthew Groen of West Des Moines; Shaun William (Nicole) Groen of Sioux Falls, SD; Shelby Lynn (Jerrid) Kruse of Sioux City; 21 great grandchildren; a sister: Alice DeBoer of Hartley and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceeded in death by his parents; three brothers: Richard, Erwin and Arthur; and a grandson, Michael Nelson.