- Date Of Birth: October 2, 1931
- Date Of Death: January 25, 2012
- State: New Mexico
JOHN A. DEGROOT, 80, longtime Deming resident passed away January 25, 2012 at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces surrounded by his loving wife and family.
John was born on October 2, 1931 in Montrose, South Dakota to Ina Dryer and George DeGroot. John graduated from Monroe High School in 1950. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict from July 1952 through April 1954. John married Ruth Anderson in Hendricks, MN on June 23, 1952 and began a family and seven wonderful children were born to this marriage. John became the proprietor of the TrueValue Hardware Store in Chisholm, MN and enjoyed working there for 40 years. After retiring, John and Ruth moved to the Southwest where he was able to enjoy the outdoors and sunshine while tending to his garden, the flowers and feeding the birds.
John is survived by his loving wife, Ruth of the home; four sons, Jon (Molly) of Atlanta, GA, Jim (Paula) of Garden City, UT, Jeff (Charlene) of Side Lake, MN, and Jason (Charlene) of Chisholm, MN; three daughters, Marilyn (Laree) Schnabel of Andover, MN, Michelle (Bill) Thomas of Billings, MT and Melissa (Loren) Kmett of Baxter, MN; a brother, Harold DeGroot of Sioux Falls, SD; a sister, Gertrude Witkop of Marion, SD; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
John will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be dearly missed.
