Maurice Eugene Groenendyk was the son of Peter and Jennie (Hoksbergen) Groenendyk of Tracy, Iowa. He was the youngest of their four children and was born on November 15, 1937, in Bussey, Iowa. "Butch" attended school in Tracy and graduated from Tracy High School in 1956 thirteenth of his class of thirteen and he was glad to graduate. Maurice was baptized and made profession of his faith at the Tracy Christian Reformed Church in Tracy in 1959. Following his high school graduation he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Staff Sergeant Groenendyk served with the National Guard from 1956 until 1964 and his special memories of his guard duty were the two week summer camps. Maurice met Helen Elaine Struik, a daughter of Hubert and Hendrika (Van Norden) Struik, at a youth social function at the Newton Christian Reformed Church in Newton, Iowa. On May 1, 1959, they were united in marriage at the Newton Christian Reformed Church and to this union two daughters were born: Jill Elaine and Julie Ellen. Maurice and Helen lived on a farm south of Tracy where he farmed. He then got into the floor covering business in Knoxville, Iowa. In 1972 they moved into Pella, Iowa where Maurice was employed as a custodian at the Pella Christian High School and started his own business, Custom Flooring. On July 23, 1984, his wife, Helen, passed away from breast cancer at the age of 44 years. Maurice married Linda Rose in 1985 and to this union one son, Derek Gene, was born. Maurice later sold his flooring business and became a custodian for the Pella Community Schools at Lincoln Elementary. During this time Maurice discovered his passion for helping those people and families in need of household items. This mission began in the garage at the First Reformed Church. It continued to grow and grow and soon depleted its space and he sought other locations. It is now known as the Thrift Shop and Maurice took great pride in being the originator of its development, going to sales and just the satisfaction of helping others in need. Maurice was honored by Governor Terry Branstad as the Volunteer of the Year for sending furniture to Bosnia immigrants in Des Moines, Iowa. He enjoyed going to the Mr. & Mrs. Society at the Tracy Christian Reformed Church in Tracy, teaching young peoples society and singing. He had served as a Deacon at the First Reformed Church in Pella and was attending the Federated Fellowship Church. On Saturday morning, September 17, 2011, Maurice passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 73 years. Those who will cherish his memory are his two daughters and their families: Jill and her husband, Dean Borgman and their two children: Lucas Borgman and his fiancé, Samantha Van Haaften, Heather and her husband, Randy Reineke all of Pella; Julie Richardson and Rod Visser and her two children: Samantha and Colton Richardson all of Pella; his son, Derek Groenendyk and his wife, Anna (Lavely) of Tucson, Arizona; his brother, Ed Groenendyk of Pella; two brothers-in-law: Harold Van Maanen and his wife, Marie of Pella and Jim McDonough of Oskaloosa, Iowa; the Struik sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and several nieces and nephews (along with his two cats, Zoe and Nero). Maurice was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents, Peter and Jennie Groenendyk; his two sisters: Luella (Harold) Van Maanen and Dorothy (Jim) McDonough; and a sister-in-law, Hilda (Ed) Groenendyk. Maurice loved to cook and bake and enjoyed trying new receipes. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and going to gospel sings and sales. His true passion was helping those in need and his servant heart will be missed.

Funeral services will be held
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
Federated Fellowship Church, Pella, Iowa
Interment will be made in the Sandridge Cemetery near Tracy, Iowa

Visitation will begin Tuesday morning at Federated Fellowship where the family will be present Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For those desiring, memorials may be designated for Campus Ministries at Central College or Angel Tree at Lakeview Camp.


Above from Van Dyk – Duven Funeral Home Website