John H. Groenewold

JOHN H. GROENEWOLD, JR...

was born to John Henry and Alice Henrietta (Vanderlaan) Groenewold on November 28, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He moved with his family to Grand Rapids, Michigan and later moved to Pipestone, Minnesota where he attended Pipestone High School. On March 26, 1959, he was united in marriage to Frances M. Brands by the Rev. John H. Groenewold at the Christian Reformed Church in Pipestone. In the early years of marriage, the couple lived in Pipestone, Slayton and Woodstock, MN where John was employed by JCP, Sudenga Produce and Herold’s Shoes. In 1962, they returned to Pipestone and owned and operated J & F Family Shoes. They later sold the business and John became employed by Pipestone County as a Deputy Sheriff. He then began trucking for Thompson Brothers and Christensen Trucking in Luverne, Minnesota. He later drove truck for Van Ruler Trucking in Pipestone and then started his own company “Pipe’s Pride”. His trucking friends knew him by his handle “Peacepipe”. In 1997, he semi-retired and started working at Royal River Casino in Flandreau, South Dakota as a security officer and helped take care of the Mobile Home Park. In 2000, he retired due to health issues. John was preceded in death by his wife, Frances, on September 23, 2011. After her death, he continued living in their home. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lung Cancer on April 6, 2012. On May 3, 2012, he entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where he died on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the age of 69 years, five months and 14 days.

He was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pipestone. He enjoyed traveling to Nascar races. He also enjoyed fishing and camping. He loved riding motorcycles and working on them.

He is lovingly remembered by his children Cynthia Ahlers (Mike Rustad) of Pipestone, Minnesota, Brenda (Timothy) VandenBerg of Pipestone, Minnesota, Wanda (Steven) Powell of Pipestone, Minnesota, Loren (Lisa) Groenewold of Trosky, Minnesota and Mark Groenewold of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eleven grandchildren, Justin (Dana) Ahlers, Jeremy Ahlers, Travis Ahlers, Marie (Mike) Slotemaker, Amanda (Nick) Neubert, Melissa (Tyler) Bassett, Matthew (Kari) Yonkers, Kimberly Yonkers, BJ (Megan) Groenewold, Cody Groenewold (Jessica Waters), and Derek Velure; three great-grandchildren, Owen Neubert, Ethan Neubert, and Liam Slotemaker; his mother, Alice Redeker of Waupun, Wisconsin; two brothers, James (Lois) Goenewold of Fox Lake, Wisconsin and Karl (Donna) Groenewold of Morrison, Illinois; one sister, Kathy Bille (Bob) of Waupun, Wisconsin; and his two shih tzu puppies, Molly and Mindy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; his father, John H. Groenewold; one nephew, Travis Groenewold; and one sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Groenewold.