Vernon Grote, age 92, of Carroll, died Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lectors will be John Grote and Dawn Schulz. Gift Bearers will be Terrence Sexton, Meagen Berger, and Zander Berger. Eucharistic Minister will be Deb Kult. Casket Bearers will be Dean Feltner, Alex Grote, Travis Heuton, Steven Berger, Andrew Berger, and Jon Neppel. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dillavou Cemetery, rural Scranton.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, a rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Wednesday morning where additional visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or at the church for a later memorial designation by the family.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Vernon’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Vernon, the son of Herman and Louisa (Janning) Grote was born on June 15, 1931 on the family farm north of Arcadia, Iowa. He graduated from St. Bernard’s High School in Breda. After high school Vernon acquired his electrical license and worked for Witt Electric and later at Ocoma Foods in maintenance department in Carroll. He would also work at Montgomery Ward, The Radiant Corporation, and as watchman for the building when Radiant Corporation closed. When General Electric acquired the building, he was the second hire for General Electric in Carroll and retired from there in 1991 as the head of maintenance. Vernon also repaired appliances and T.V.’s on the side.
On August 21, 1951 Vernon was united in marriage to Winona “Nonie” McCollum at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The couple lived southwest of Breda and in 1953 they moved to the Carroll community.
Vernon enjoyed playing cards, coin collecting, ham radio, traveling to all 50 states, genealogy, camping, canoeing, hiking, or anything outdoors. Vernon also enjoyed wintering in Arizona with his wife Nonie. Vernon had a deep devotion to his faith leading the daily rosary at the nursing home until his health didn’t permit it. Vernon was a member of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll.
Vernon is survived by his children: Louisa (Donnie) Feltner of Storm Lake, Robert (Marj) Grote of Kansas City Mo, Louis (Cindy) Grote of Carroll, Dale (Diane) Grote of Springville, IN, Jolene (Dale) Berger of Arcadia, Kathy (Maynard) Hull of Lake City, Allen Grote (and friend Michele Craven-Robertson) of Lake City, Brenda (Lynn) Heuton of Carroll; son-in-law: Jim Neppel of Carroll; 24 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; brothers: Leonard (Jean) Grote of Breda, and Joe (Donna) Grote of Carroll; his sisters-in-law Charla Grote of Farnhamville; Anna McCollum of Mountain Home, AR as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife Winona in 2015; parents; daughters: Sanda Fritz, and Joan Neppel; grandchildren: Jodi Grote, Mary Beth Feltner; great-grandchildren Kyd Pedersen; Nile Heithoff; Gerald Anderson; siblings: Erwin Grote, Elmer (Lois) Grote, and Louis Grote; and his in-laws: Francis McCollum, Floyd McCollum.
