San Joaquin County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Groen, Nick J. August 30 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cheryl Davis-Holman Cis1052@aol.com September 3, 2004, 5:40 pm The Record September 1, 2004 Ripon Nick J. Groen May 8, 1917 - August 30, 2004 Nick J. Groen, age 87, of Ripon, died Monday, August 30, 2004, in Placerville. Mr. Groen was born May 8, 1917, in Platte, South Dakota to Fred and Jennie Winters Groen. He earned a General Education Degree while in the Navy and graduated from Colorado State University in 1950. Mr. Groen lived in Platte until January, 1938, when he moved to Ripon, CA with his family. He farmed after coming to California and later worked for Spreckles Sugar Co. in Manteca before entering the U.S. Navy in 1940. During WWII, he served aboard the USS Curtis, a Seaplane Tender, during which time he providentially survived a kamikaze attack. Groen was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. Following his military service, Groen attended the College of the Pacific for a year and then Colorado State University, where he earned a degree in general science and chemistry. He then went to work for Great Western Sugar Co. and later returned to California to be on the staff at Spreckels Sugar Co. in Manteca. Later, Groen re enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving two years before being honorably discharged. He then chose to enter the real estate business in Ripon and decided to further pursue his education at Humphrey's College in Stockton, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree. Subsequently, Groen enjoyed a successful career in the real estate business for nearly 50 years. He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife, Sharon Groen; brother, Rein Groen of San Martin; sisters, Jeanette Jongejuegd and Hattie Hansum of Platte, South Dakota, Margaret DeJong of Ripon and Edna Buddingh of Lubbock, Texas; sisters- in-law, Swaanee Groen and Wendy Groen and a host of nephews, nieces and many, many friends, Groen also leaves behind his business partner, Manuel Soares, who was like a son to him. Together, they developed subdivisions in Ripon, Manteca, Oakdale, Riverbank and Salida. Preceding him in death were his parents, Fred and Jennie Groen; brothers, John, Jake, Albert and Henry Groen. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 4, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. in Ripon at Calvary Reformed Church. Rev. Ray DeDoes will officiate. The burial will be held in Ripon Cemetery following the memorial service. Visitation will be Friday, September 3rd from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Deegan Funeral Chapel of Ripon, CA. Donations may be made to City of Ripon Library Fund, Ripon Memorial Library, 430 W. Main Street, attn: Melinda Kopp, Ripon, CA 95366. File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanjoaquin/obits/ob1076groen.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/caobfiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb