Fern Crystal Groeneveld

Fern Crystal Groeneveld, 102, went home to be with her Savior on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Newton, at the home of her daughter Barb Pence.

Visitation with the family will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Funeral services for Fern will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Bob Simon, of Immanuel Baptist in Newton, will conduct the services. A Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at East Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Eldora. In lieu of flowers, and as an expression of sympathy, memorials may be designated to Fern’s family (Gene Groeneveld), in her name.

Fern, the daughter of the late Lafe Wesley and Idella Larue (Graves) Sutherland, she was born April 17, 1922, near Pleasantville. A lifelong resident of the Grundy and Hardin Counties areas, she was a graduate of the Albion Senior High School, Class of 1940.

On December 16, 1942, Fern, “Oma” to her grandchildren, was united in marriage with Leslie H.J. “Bud” Groeneveld, “Opa” to his grandchildren, in Grundy County. To this union was born three children: Barbara, Gene and Jon. Fern was employed for many years by Trojan Seed Corn/Pfizer Genetics Research Company in Eldora. She was an assistant girl scout leader in the sixties, and later she managed the Est side convenience store for several years. In Newton she enjoyed Willowbrook Adult Center and swimming at the YMCA. Fern was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. She was a member of the Eldora First Baptist Church, and later attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Newton. She devoted her life to her family, was an excellent cook, enjoyed bible studies, feeding her birds and squirrels and loved to read. She and Opa were great prayer warriors for their family, and she was a woman who served God through many years of hosting church funeral luncheons, Sunday School teacher, Mary Martha’s, AWANA helper, serving at VBS, and supporting missionaries.

Those left to honor Fern’s memory include her daughter Barbara (Levi) Pence of Newton; her sons: Gene (Marilyn) Groeneveld of Newton and Jon (Rebecca) Morrow) Groeneveld of Woodward; her nine grandchildren: , twenty-six great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; her many nieces and nephews; and her many good neighbors and friends.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of seventy-two years, Bud; and her thirteen brothers and sisters.

Online condolences may be left at:: www.pencefh.com.