Obituary of Alvin Faye Groeneweg

   Corsica - Alvin Faye Groeneweg, 83, died at Douglas County Memorial Hospital in Armour on Friday, December 11, 2020. Due to Covid-19 concerns and need to social distance, funeral service will be at Grace Reformed Church in Corsica on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 10:30 AM with burial following in Graceland Cemetery in Corsica. The funeral service will be live streamed on Corsica CRC/Grace Reformed Church Facebook page. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 16, 2020 from 5 - 7 PM at Grace Reformed Church in Corsica with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Alvin's family would appreciate all that attend to wear masks.

   Alvin Faye Groeneweg was born on November 5, 1937 to Henry and Gertie (Vanden Hoek) Groeneweg on the family farm northwest of Corsica, SD. He received his elementary education at a country school and attended Corsica High School for nearly two years. He spent the next few years working alongside his Dad on the farm until he married Vivian Vander Zee from New Holland, SD on July 9, 1958.

   He then began his lifelong career as a farmer, living for two years north of Harrison in Garden Valley, moving to a farm in Aurora County for seven years and re-locating to a farm east of Harrison, where he lived the remainder of his life. He loved farming and was a good steward of the land. Getting those corn rows planted straight during planting time was one of his goals. He enjoyed his herd of stock cattle, always going out early in the morning in the springtime of the year to check for new calves. Horses brought much pleasure to his life. He usually had a saddle horse around ready to ride. He later enjoyed driving a team of horses, pulling a buggy, or the covered wagon which he built. He enjoyed many trail rides, especially the 2014 South Dakota Wagon Train, traveling from Yankton, SD to Pierre, SD. He was privileged to shake the hand of Governor Daugaard when reaching Pierre. He also loved bowling and golfing. He created many memorable times with his buddies. He loved hunting with family members, his trips to Alaska where he shot a moose and a bear.

   He served on the board of the Corsica/Platte Community First Bank for several years (1986-1990). He was sexton of the Harrison Cemetery from 2001 to 2015.

   In his later teens he made profession of his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior and joined the First Reformed Church of Harrison , SD, now known as the Harrison Community Church. There was a time when he taught Jr. High Catechism. He served several terms on the church council as an elder and a deacon.

   In 2012, it became evident that Alzheimer’s was beginning to invade his life. He handled the disease very graciously. Later when it became difficult to know how to do things, he was always eager to lend a helping hand.

   The day after his birthday, he became sick with Covid 19. He tried hard to overcome it. Five weeks later, on December 11, 2020, he died from its complications under Hospice Care at the Douglas County Memorial Hospital. He was 83 years old.

   Alvin lived life to the fullest. He was a kind, caring man who dearly loved his family. He will be missed by his family who loved him so dearly and by all who knew him.

   Grateful for having shared in Alvin’s life are his wife Vivian of 62 plus years, a daughter Londa (Darrell) Vanden Hoek of Corsica, a son Lowell (Terry) Groeneweg of Hartford, SD, a daughter-in-law Barb Groeneweg of Corsica; eight grand-children Tara and Chad Wentland, Wade and Lindsey Groeneweg, Brad and Lexy Groeneweg and Aaron Groeneweg all of Corsica; Angela and Jay Spaans of Armour and Trent and Abby Vanden Hoek of Corsica; Jason Groeneweg of Sioux Falls, Dustin and April Groeneweg of Gulf Breeze, Flordia. Sixteen Great-grand-children Brendan, Tyson and Tryton Wentland, Ledger Enter, Laikynn, Ellie and Easton Groeneweg, Bailey, Riley, Oakley and Kinley Spaans, Cali, Max and Remi Vanden Hoek; Rowen and Reese Groeneweg. Two step-grandsons Phillip Bassing and David and Leann Bassing, Micah, Lauren and Vera Bassing. Two brothers, Robert and Bertha Groeneweg of Anchorage, Alaska and Larry and Judy Groeneweg of Corsica. A sister, Pauline Tolsma of Stickney. His in-laws, Wilma and Loren Menning of Mitchell, Delores Anderson and Elaine Dyk both of Platte. Many nephews, nieces, cousins and wonderful friends.

   He was preceded in death by his son Leslie (November 12, 2016), his parents, a brother Merlin and wife Donna, and brother-in-law Lawrence Tolsma, his parents in-law Dave and Nellie Vander Zee and several in-law siblings.