Grout, Jess W.

Celebration of Life for Jess W. Grout, 89, of Kalona, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Sharon Center United Methodist Church, 2824 520th St., rural Kalona. Burial will be in South Sharon Cemetery. Pastor Doug Cue will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Peterseim Funeral Home, Kalona.

Jess died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at Pleasantview Home.

Jesse Warren Grout was born near Kalona on May 1, 1920, the son of James and Nina Southwick Grout. He graduated from Sharon Center High School in 1940 and in 1942, entered the United States Army. He served as a medical technician in the European Theatre until 1945. Returning to the home where he was born and grew up he continued to farm there until retiring and moving to Kalona in 2004. It was on this farm he and Ida raised their family. Jess and Ida Meer were married March 23, 1946, in the South Sharon (Grout) Church.

Jess was a member of the Sharon Center United Methodist Church, a 50-year plus member of Fellowship Masonic Lodge and a 50-year plus member of Corona Chapter Order of Eastern Star. He sang with the Iowa City Barbershop Chorus for many years. Jess had many interests, which included gardening, writing and refinishing furniture.

Four children - Carma and Jon Kuhl of Iowa City, Warren and Cathy Grout of Forest, Va., Linda and Gary Talcott of Marion and Janell and Don Peters of Monticello survive Jess. Also surviving are four grandsons, Nathan Grout, the Rev. Damien Grout, Chris Talcott and Pat Talcott; and two great-grandsons, Wesley and Stephen Grout. Additional survivors are two sisters-in-law, Veryl Grout of Riverside and Irene Grout of Kalona; and a host of friends.

Jess was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ida (2006); a granddaughter, Kara Grout; and two brothers, Irvin (Mose) Grout and Clair (Buck) Grout.

A memorial fund in his memory has been established for the Sharon Center United Methodist Church or Pleasantview Home.

Condolences may be sent to