Clarence Groen

Steen, MN Clarence Groen, age 88 of Steen, MN died Friday, March 5, 2010 at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne, MN. Memorial services will be held 11:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 9th at the Reformed Church of Steen, MN with Rev. Dan Kuik officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service at 9:30 A.M. at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley, IA. Visitation will be Monday, March 8th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Hills, MN. Clarence Jacob Groen was born on December 27, 1921 in Sioux County, near Sioux Center, IA. He was raised on a farm northwest of Rock Valley. On February 21, 1941 he was united in marriage to Pearl Groeneweg and to this union three children were born, Agnes, Dean and Curtis. He and his family farmed near Hudson SD. Clarence lost his first wife in 1963. In December of 1969 he married Pearl Brinkman and the couple moved to a farm near Steen in 1973. In the early 1990s the couple moved to Steen. Clarence lost his second wife in 2006. Clarence was a hard worker and loved to farm. He was also a wonderful story teller. Clarence was very proud of his Dutch heritage and he could speak and write the Dutch language fluently. He visited Holland in the 1970s and enjoyed keeping track of relatives there by letters and phone calls. He very much enjoyed visiting with his children on the phone and each of them could look forward to receiving calls from their dad on a predictable schedule. And, he enjoyed getting about and visiting friends in Steen on his scooter. He will be greatly missed by many. This past Friday, Clarence passed away at the Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, MN. He was 88. Clarence is survived by daughter, Agnes Maassen of Valley Springs, SD; son, Dean (Glenda) Groen of Luverne, MN; son, Curtis (Marilyn) Groen of Dell Rapids, SD; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Paul (Angeline) Groen of Brookings, SD; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Groen of Inwood, IA and Pauline Groen of Fairview, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Pearl Groeneweg and wife Pearl Brinkman; sister, Della; brothers, John and Henry; and son-in-law, John Maassen.