Lorrain Vernon Grooters

IN MEMORY OF
L. V. “TUFFY” GROOTERS

BORN
November 30, 1919
Boyden, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
September 16, 2008
Sheldon, Iowa

MEMORIAL SERVICE
11:00 A.M. Friday, September 19, 2008
First Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa
CLERGYMEN
Rev. David Brower and Rev. Gordon Bloemendaal
Visitation
will be Thursday, September 18, 2008 after 4:00pm with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00am at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden, Iowa.
MUSIC
“God So Loved the World”
“Precious Lord Take My Hand”
Sung by: Dyan Sterk
Organist: Midge Andringa

CASKET BEARERS
Dr. Greg Kosters Brian Vande Hoef
Duane Vande Hoef Mark Nieman
Derek Grooters Serkan Hasanusta

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Graveside service 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 19, 2008
Sheridan Township Cemetery ~ Boyden, Iowa
with Military Graveside Services conducted by the:
William Monster Post # 272 American Legion of Boyden

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to
join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, Iowa
L. V. “TUFFY” GROOTERS

Lorrain Vernon “Tuffy” Grooters, the son of Benjamin and Antonette (Moret) Grooters was born November 30, 1919 in Boyden, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Boyden High School and went on to attend Sheldon Junior College for one year. Tuff married Wilmina Vander Maten on May 21, 1941 in Boyden; two sons were born to this union, Ronald and Daryl. Tuff enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942 and the couple moved to California, while in the Coast Guard he served as a cook 2nd class. His family enjoyed the skills he learned for many years. The couple returned to Boyden where Tuff began working in the blacksmith shop with his father-in-law. He later started Grooters Implement that was his life for many years; he later closed the business and opened a small Trustworthy Hardware store in Boyden, which he operated until his retirement in 1997. The couple later moved to Sheldon to make their home and later to the Christian Retirement Home. He passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at the Retirement Home reaching the age of 88 years, 9 months and 16 days.
He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon and a former member of the First Reformed Church in Boyden. Athletics have always been a big part of his life; he played softball and refereed basketball for 27 years. Tuff and Mina faithfully attended all Boyden-Hull and Northwestern College football and basketball games. While in Boyden he served as Mayor, was on the City Council, and was a Past Commander of William Monster Post of the American Legion, was on the Boyden School Board and was an Elder and Deacon of First Reformed Church. He had served on the Board of Northwestern College for 12 years and was currently a member of Prairie Queen Kiwanis in Sheldon.
Tuff leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Mina of Sanborn; two sons and their wives, Dr. Ronald and Kay Grooters of West Des Moines and Daryl and Amy Grooters of Boyden; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, also other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Gilbert and one sister, Mildred Blumeyer.