Janet Ann Groen

Rock Rapids, Iowa Janet A. Groen, age 64 of Rock Rapids, IA died unexpectedly on Friday, November 23, 2012 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, November 28th at Hope Reformed Church in George, IA, with burial to follow at church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 27th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to South Dakota March of Dimes. Janet Jan Ann Groen was born July 25, 1948 in Hot Springs, SD. She was the only daughter of Arnold and Gertrude (Ganske) Weltz. As a young girl they moved to Scotland, SD, where she attended Scotland Community School and graduated in 1966. She continued her education at Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD, where she received a degree in accounting and graduated in 1968. She began working at Greenlees Meat Packing Plant in their accounting department in Sioux Falls, SD. On April 17, 1971 Jan was united in marriage to Gary R. Groen, at United Church of Christ, in Scotland, SD. They began their married life together in Sioux Falls before moving shortly after to Rock Rapids. Between February and March of 1972 they moved to rural Rock Rapids onto the farm. Three children were born to this union. Jan focused on raising her children, while they were young and later worked for various places in the area, such as John Deere Implement near Doon, IA, Pamida Store in Rock Rapids, Foreign Candy Company in Hull, Morgan Stanley in Sioux Falls and most recently at Alpha Omega in Rock Rapids as a customer service representative. On September 26, 2002, Gary died after 31 years of marriage. She was a member of Hope Reformed Church in George, IA, where earlier in her life Jan (and Gary) was active as RCYF Leaders. She enjoyed sewing, scrapbooking, crafting, cooking, baking, gardening and flowers. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and she was beginning to share all of the things she loved with them. Some of her most recent projects included teaching Emma to sew, beginning a scrapbook with Hailey for graduation, canning and gardening with Jennifer and Emma this past summer, helping Sophie learn how to walk and talk, helping Melissa settle into their new home, teaching Andrew how to cut the pickle and encouraging Steven to keep his room clean. This past Thursday, November 22nd Jan suffered a brain aneurysm and was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN, where she died Friday, November 23, 2012 at the age of 64. She is survived by three children, Shawn (wife Jennifer) Groen of Brookings, SD; Melissa (husband Richard) Swacker of George, IA and Alison (husband Kristopher) Mertens of Otsego, MN; five grandchildren, Hailey Swacker, Steven Swacker, Emma Groen, Sophie Groen and Andrew Swacker; a brother-in-law, Merlin (wife Jackie) Groen of George, IA; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn (husband Jerry) Vande Brake of Rock Rapids, IA and Eileen (husband Jim) Vaupel of George, IA; and nieces, nephews and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Gertrude Weltz; her husband, Gary R. Groen; and parents-in-law, Ricks and Martha Groen.