Grovert, Richard Henry 'Groovy'

Richard Henry “Groovy” Grovert, 77, died Friday, May 6, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall, with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at St. John Cemetery near Newhall, with graveside military rites conducted by John Ward McGranahan American Legion Post 167 of Newhall. Visitation also will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. today.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous.

Richard was born May 15, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, to Herald Robert and Florence Elizabeth (Young) Grovert, and graduated from Newhall High School in 1951. During the Korean conflict he served his nation in the U.S. Army. On Sept. 9, 1956, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Kay Kaestner at Newhall. Richard was a farmer and served as a rural mail carrier for 18 years.

A lifetime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall, he was a charter member and past president of the Newhall Lions Club, where he was honored as a recipient of the Warren Coleman Life Time Volunteer Award. Richard was a 4-H leader for 40 years, was active in the Youngville Cafe Restoration and worked there and served on the Newhall Recreation Board. He was a member of the Benton County Development Group, Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, and the John Deere 2-Cylinder Club. Since 1984 he was a Hawkeye Women's Basketball season ticker holder.

He is survived by his son, Bob (Stephanie) Grovert of Cedar Rapids; his daughters, Cathy Kilawee of Omaha, Neb., and Jane Hagen of Newhall; his grandchildren, Ryan, Bridget, Dillon, Kristina, Drew, Anna, Jake and Ellie; and his great-grandson, Evan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Jennifer; and his sister, Mary Lou Grovert.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.

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