Victor P. Groh

 Victor P. Groh died at the age of 90 as he entered God’s arms on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014.  His legacy will live on through everyone who knew him – his family, his friends, and those whose lives he has touched. 

 A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, at Sacred Heart Church, Rockwell, Iowa. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 5 – 7 p.m., concluding with a prayer service at 7 p.m.  Visitation prior to the service on Thursday will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish Center.
Victor P. Groh was born June 24, 1924 in Ventura, Iowa, to parents Henry and Sena (Fuls) Groh, and was the fifth of 12 children.  He attended Mason City High School and at age 17 entered the US Navy and served in WWII, primarily on the USS Murray in the Pacific Theatre.  On Aug. 6, 1944, Vic married Mary Ellen Plonsky.  They were blessed with eight children, and were foster parents to many.
  After returning from the war, Vic worked at Central Show Printing in Mason City.  In 1950 he and Mary Ellen moved to Thornton and bought the weekly newspaper, the Thornton Enterprise, which later became the Southern County News and The Printing Office.  Over the years Vic took on many community responsibilities including Justice of the Peace, town Mayor, school bus driver for 30 years, and owner of the Thornton Cafe.  Vic was instrumental in founding the Pleasant Valley Golf Course, Ingebretson Park, the Pleasant View Apartment complex and the Thornton EMT’s. He was also a long-time member of the Thornton Lions and American Legion.
  Vic followed the greatest commandment, to love one another, and his children knew how very much he loved each of them.  He demonstrated this love on a daily basis by always encouraging, believing in and displaying a positive attitude.  As the cornerstone of his family, Vic was a good and Godly man, and an amazing father.  He was steadfast in faith and was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1985. 
  After losing his beloved wife, Mary Ellen, to Alzheimer’s, Vic had the rare opportunity to find the second love of his life, and married Ruth Timm on Oct. 24, 2009.  This union joined together two families that have been life-long friends.
  Forever loved as a husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend, Vic will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Ruth; children and step-children, Kristie (Mel) Pope, Middleton, Wis.; Polly (Robert) Nordman, Savage, Minn.; Barry (Kim) Groh, Thornton; Steve (Nancy) Solum, Franklinton, N.C.; Amy Kuhlers, Pleasant Hill, Iowa; Janet Steen, Nashville, Tenn.; Jean (Mark) Ostrander, Clear Lake; and Mary Ellen (Ron) Monson, Clear Lake; his 21 grandchildren and step-grandchildren:  Christopher Green, Tom (Angelica) Green, Brian Pope, Brad (Maria) Pope, Michelle (Fred) Bartman, Derek (Susan) Nordman, Cory (Bethany) Nordman, Nicholas (Kristin) Nordman, Angela (Kyle) Fogt, Scott (Heather) Groh, Ashley Groh,   Randy Groh, Kody Kuhlers, Kasey Kuhlers, Michael (Jennifer) Ostrander, Laura (Ostrander), Anna (Javier) Vela, Hanna Monson, Derek DeBell; and his great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Grant and Reagan Pope, Ethan, Evan and Elizabeth Nordman, Elliot and Luke Fogt, Caroline Steen, Aaron and Kaylee Ostrander, Teddy Vela, and Dawson and Deondrea DeBell.  He is also survived by sisters, Pauline Bull, Dorothy (Harry) Larkin, Rosie Redman, Delores Miller; and brother-in-law, Robert Plonsky; and many nieces and nephews.
  Victor was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ellen; children: Vickie, Randy and Lisa; siblings, Elmer, Melvin, Esther (Solum), Harvey, Lorraine (King), Donald and an infant brother; and sisters-in-law, Margaret (Plonsky) (Schmolke) Fangman; Imogene (Plonsky) (Varvel) Berg; and brother-in-law, John Plonksy.