Arthur "Art" John Groen

Rock Rapids, IA Arthur John Art Groen, age 84 of Rock Rapids, IA died Sunday June 19, 2011 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Reverend Katie Van Veldhuizen officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethel Reformed Cemetery rural Ellsworth, MN. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 21st from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. Arthur John Groen was born August 29th, 1926 in rural Ellsworth, MN to John and Amelia (Boomgaarden) Groen. He grew up in the Ellsworth area through his grade school years and then moved to the Sibley area to farm with his family. On March 18th, 1953 he was united in marriage to Connie Hoekert at Connies parents home in Steen, MN. To this union three children were born. He worked for the City of Rock Rapids for 10 years before beginning a 20 year career with Mid States Pack, which later became Iowa Beef in Luverne, MN. Art and Connie then worked for Rich and Sue Roste at Roste Funeral Home in Rock Rapids for 16 years and another 4 years when the funeral home became Jurrens Funeral Homes until their second retirement in 2008. Art loved the outdoors very much and enjoyed pheasant hunting and shooting trap and skeet. He was a lifetime member of the Rock Rapids Gun Club in which he was an avid and active member until the time of his death. He was a long time member of the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. But mostly, Art will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family will remember him as a source of strength and guidance and a loving friend. This past Sunday, Arthur John Groen passed away at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 84. He will be greatly missed. Art is survived by his wife of 58 years, Connie Groen of Rock Rapids; daughter, Wylleen May of Los Angeles, CA; Arlyn (Cathy) Groen of Sioux Falls, SD and Jon (Cindy) Groen of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, MaCayn May; Aaron Groen, Tamara Forseth and Cody Groen; Molly Strickler, Josh and Jesse Groen; great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Kaiden and Lillian; sister, Helene Kruger of Rock Rapids, IA; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Delmer; and great-grandson, Sean.