Marguerite ‘Jean’ Groesbeck

Marguerite “Jean” Groesbeck, of Charles City, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at the age of 92 in her daughter’s home; the love of her life came and took her home.

A funeral Mass for Jean will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City.

A celebration of life for Jean will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Elks Lodge #418 in Charles City starting with a cook out at noon. Everyone who cherished Jean and Dale are welcome to attend – eat, dance, love and laugh – the motto of their lives.

Marguerite Jean (Loye) Groesbeck was the first born of three daughters to Marian (Howard) and Earl Loye on Jan. 17, 1929 on a cold winters day. Her father had to heat bricks to put in a horse drawn sleigh to bring her home. Jean was raised on the family’s farm on 250th Street in Charles City that her grandparents from Ireland had homesteaded until she was 14 years old. She then moved in with relatives in town so she could finish junior and senior high school. She worked at a bakery and then at Sears. Dale had a friend call Jean to see if she would go out with him. Jean and her cousin Mary (Huss) Kach were noted as the “best looking brunettes in town”. That must have made Dale a little nervous. Jean knew who Dale’s brother was and accepted and the rest is history. They got married on August 3, 1947 in Austin, Minnesota at the Queen of Angels Catholic Church. They had four children.

Jean worked at the ASCS Office, First Citizens Bank, Breitbach Chiropractic and Saxony where she met many of her dearest lifelong friends. She loved her family and friends and was always there for them. One of her friends called her ‘a little Irish lady who cooked in her kitchen and fed everybody.” When people were sending CARE packages to their kids in college back in the ‘70s, she was sending CARE packages to her sons in Vietnam.

Jean was gifted at being able to “hand it over to God.” Her faith was so strong. Jean and Dale loved to entertain friends and family. Dale would say “I’ll clean the basement if you cook” to mom and they would have a party. Jean and Dale loved to golf and go fishing on Minnesota lakes with family and friends. They also loved fishing on the Mississippi River. Jean was always there for everyone. I don’t know how she did it but she rarely sat down in her younger years. She was never jealous or wasted time being envious of others. She gave, gave, gave to others and then gave some more.

Jean was a 4-H leader, St. Anthony Circle leader, volunteered to help as church functions, and if there was a lemon pound cake on the kitchen counter, we had to ask if it was a “funeral cake” or if we could eat it. Jean made everything she touched special, whether it was food, a beautiful quilt or an embroidered piece she made.

Jean loved to laugh and relished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, no matter if they lived near or far, she loved them all. Jean and Dale traveled and visited family wherever they lived until they couldn’t. Jean was a special lady who lived simply, cared deeply, loved generously, spoke kindly and left the rest to God.

Jean is survived by her children: David (Shizuko) Groesbeck of Henderson, North Carolina, Doug (Linda) Groesbeck of Wentzville, Missouri, Julie Barrett of Cedar Falls and Jayne Stowe of Charles City; eight grandchildren: Eisaku (Tammi) Groesbeck and daughter Rasy, Kenji (Angie) Groesbeck and son Kai Eisaku, Jennifer (Jody) Armentrout and children Logan and Grayce, Teresa Barrett, Emily (Jeff) Griswold and children Nora and Coen, Dan Groesbeck and son Ethyn, Sean Stowe and children Jackson, Harper and Rylee, Jordan Stowe and children McKinley and Jacob; two sisters: Joanne (Jersey) Jermier of Cedar Falls and Judy (Thomas) Courtney of McKinney, Texas; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale on April 13, 2010; her precious great-grandson, Hayden Dale Stowe on January 17, 2010; her parents; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Melvin (Monty) and Patricia Groesbeck; her mother and father-in-law; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

If you would like to donate in Jean’s name, she supported Immaculate Conception Elementary School, Messiah Food Pantry, Ronald McDonald House, St. Croix Hospice, Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors and Paralyzed Veterans.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.