W. Dean Groneweg

W. Dean Groneweg, age 84, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on July 5, 2011. He was born on August 29, 1926 in Oberlin, KS to George H and Effie (Baughman) Groneweg. Dean rode a horse to the country school. He graduated from Oberlin HS in 1944. Dean had a drivers license in high school and doubled as the school bus driver for the school kids. Dean served his country in WWII and served in the European Theatre, in the US Army from 1945 till 1946 Dean was united in marriage to Dora "Peggy" Peck on June 14, 1949 in Oberlin. The couple just celebrated their 62nd anniversary. Dean was a life member of St. Johns Lutheran Church. He served on the church finance committee for many years. He and Peggy farmed southwest of Oberlin 20 miles on the family farm. Dean was employed for over 30 years as Decatur County Assessor. He belonged to the Oberlin American Legion Post #70 for 60 years, the Lion Club International in both Selden and Oberlin. He was a 4-H leader for the Wide-A-Wake, served on the Cook Township Board. Dean enjoyed his many animals on the farm especially his cattle herd. He raised exotic birds, donkeys, finches, several species of fish in his aquariums. He was seldom with out a dog as a companion whether it is a St. Bernard or Great Pyrenees or his latest pet Mac the basset hound. He was known to play many practical jokes and enjoyed visiting and telling stories. He loved to take day vacations from the farm to go fishing and boating with the family. He also liked to hunt deer. Dean and Peggy moved from the farm to a home in Oberlin in 2000. Dean was preceded by his father and mother, a step-mother Mary (Demmer-Roth) Groneweg, 2 step-brothers: Welton and Walter Roth; 1 step-sister: Jane McKinley. He is survived by his wife Peggy of Oberlin, KS: 2 sons: Robert and wife Judy of Oberlin, KS; Lynn and wife Donna of Enid, OK; 1 daughter: Joyce and husband Jim Jones of Cambridge, NE; 6 grandchildren: Jeff and Stormy; Nikki and Matt Johnson; Kristin and Doug; Adam and Justine; Eric and Liz; Jillian: 5 step grandchildren: Tobiann and Jeff; Ryon and Samantha; Zac; Whitney and Thi, Garry; 15 great-grandchildren: Braden, Josie, Kodie, Austin, Maceo, Theo, Addison, Macy , Braden, Bryln,, Mallory, Olivia, Emma, Kenley, Jarred Funeral service will on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10:30 be at the St. Johns Lutheran Church in Oberlin with Pastor Kevin Schnockenburg officiating. Interment will be in the Oberlin Cemetery Oberlin, KS. Military Honors will be conducted by the Oberlin American Legion Post 70. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 8:00 AM till 8:00 PM at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin. Memorial may be left in Deans name to either the St. Johns Lutheran Church in Oberlin or the Tri-Valley Medical Foundation in Cambridge, NE. This notice courtesy of Lockenour-Jones Mortuary and Pauls Funeral Home