John "Leapy" Grotewold

NOTICE: Larchwood, IA John Leapy Grotewold, age 70 of Larchwood, IA died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, Nov. 22nd at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA, with Msgr Mark Duchaine officiating. Burial will follow at the Larchwood Cemetery in Larchwood, IA. Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 21st from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will be a Vigil service held at 7:00 PM Sunday evening at the church. John Leapy Grotewold was born on leap year, February 29, 1940 in Sioux Falls, SD to Laurence and Laura (Schoenfelder) Grotewold. He graduated from St. Marys Catholic High School in 1958. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Guard where he trained as a fuel handler at Lockland Air Force Base in Texas and continued serving with the Air Guard in Sioux Falls, SD until his honorable discharge in 1963. He was united in marriage to Cathy Shipley on February 1st 1964 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA. They began their lives together and started a family on a rented farm near Larchwood. Along with farming his own place, Leapy continued to help his father work the family farm where they raised hogs and cattle as well as crops. He also started a custom bailing and corn shelling business that he worked for many years. Johns parents retired from the farm in 1976 and moved into Larchwood. At that point John and Cathy moved to and continued the operation of the family farm. Leapy was a farmer through and through. In his spare time he enjoyed driving around the local countryside looking at the crops and was heavily involved with the Granite Threshermans Association. He owned three antique John Deere tractors that he enjoyed tinkering with and driving in local parades. He was also an avid collector of John Deere farm toys. Leapy and Cathy enjoyed spending time riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. They went to Sturgis many times as well as several trips farther west to Montana and the mountains. Other times, they would just take day trip rides around the area and enjoy the scenery and time spent together. Leapy loved his family very much. He loved spending time with them, especially the grandchildren. He loved to tease and kid around with his family. His sense of humor was contagious and he was fun loving and caring. This past Wednesday, Leapy died at the age of 70 doing what he loved, working in the fields of his family farm. He will be greatly missed. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cathy Grotewold; sons, Robb (Dawn) Grotewold of Lennox, SD, Rich Grotewold of Sioux Falls, and Jim (Tammy) Grotewold of St. Cloud, MN; 4 grandchildren, Andrew and Kelsey Grotewold of Rapid City, SD and Jessica and Jamie Grotewold of Sioux Falls, SD; sisters, Mary Blauwet of Larchwood, IA and Jane Bonynge of Spicer, MN; brother, Don (Claudia) Grotewold of Moses Lake, WA; nieces nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers in law, Gene Bonynge and Joe Blauwet.