Marian Elizabeth Groen

Marian Groen, age 102, passed away on January 13, 2014 at the Iowa Jewish Life Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Marian Elizabeth Vos was born on February 21, 1911 in Hospers, Iowa to Harry and Elizabeth VanderVelde Vos, the second of four daughters. She married John Groen on February 18, 1932 in Hospers, Iowa. To this union were born three sons and a daughter. Marian and her husband John farmed together in the Hospers area, and then left the farm to answer the call of God to full-time Christian ministry. They moved to Des Moines where they attended and graduated from Open Bible Institute in 1939. Together they served pastorates in Sheldon, Iowa, Parsons, Kansas, Pella, Burlington, Waterloo, Ottumwa and Des Moines, Iowa. She was the oldest credentialed minister with Open Bible Churches and was a member of First Church of the Open Bible.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John of 63 years in 1995; her daughter, Marlene Sims in 2012; her sisters, Harriett Van Den Berg, Angeline Huffman and Leona Wishman; and one great-grandson, Titus House. Marian is survived by her sons and their spouses, Rev. Jim (Dotti) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Rev. David (Betty) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Rev. Ken (Nadine) of West Des Moines; her son-in-law, Bill Sims; 8 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway with visitation one hour prior to the service. Private family burial will be at the Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.

The family would like to thank the Iowa Jewish Life Center staff for the excellent care they provided over the past several years. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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