Orvel Groen

George, Iowa Orvel Groen, age 95 of George, IA died Thursday, November 13, 2008 at Park View Nursing Home in Ellsworth, MN. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, Nov. 15th at Bethel Reformed Church in Ellsworth, MN, with Rev. Matt Miller officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 14th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George. Orvel Groen was born on October 16, 1913, the son of Diedrich and Aleida (Meyer) Groen in rural George, IA. He grew up on a farm near George and attended the Midland Township country school. On February 17, 1938, Orvel was united in marriage to Alice Nagel at the parsonage of Bethel Reformed church near Ellsworth, MN. Following their marriage they farmed northwest of Little Rock, IA for thirty-one years. During this time Orvel also worked at the Little Rock and Ellsworth Lockers. In 1969, Alice and Orvel moved to George, IA, where they operated the George Locker together. Orvel was a lifetime member of the Bethel Reformed Church, where he served as an Elder. In his spare time Orvel enjoyed fishing, playing cards, playing horseshoes and just spending time with his family and friends. One thing he especially enjoyed was fixing wheel chairs for Hope Haven. It was a hobby of his but he considered it his job. Orvel is survived by five children, Alvira (John) Honken of Rushmore, MN, Delores (Delbert) Krull of George, IA, Glenda (Gary) Ten Napel of Sioux Center, IA, Janelle (Brent) Klaahsen of Rock Rapids, IA and Dick Groen (fianc Kristi Oskar) of George, IA; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three sisters, Grace Walters of Hills, MN, Ida DeBeer of Ellsworth, MN and Sadena Nagel of Little Rock, IA; two sisters-in-law, Arlene Groen of Rock Rapids, IA and Sylvia Gruis of Little Rock, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers, five sisters, one son, Charles Groen, one infant daughter and his wife Alice after fifty-nine years of marriage in 1997.