Lenora A. Roberts Groven

GARNER - Lenora A. Roberts Groven, 88, of Garner died Sunday, May 8, 2016 at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, May 11th at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner with Rev. Scott Kozisek officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Latimer.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th Street, Garner and will resume one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church LWML or the Garner Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Lenora Agnes (Dohrmann) Groven, the daughter of Otto and Ella (Ulk) Dohrmann, was born July 5, 1927 in rural Latimer, Iowa. She attended country school in rural Coulter and graduated from Hampton High School in 1945. Following her education, she moved to Des Moines, where she met Albert Roberts, Jr. They were united in marriage on July 28, 1948 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Latimer and to this union they were blessed with four children: Judy, Lois, Dale, and Brian. The family made their home in rural Garner before moving to Belmond in 1953. During this time, Lenora took care of the children in the home and was an Avon Sales Representative.

On June 22, 1968, the family moved back to Garner and Lenora began her career at Goodnature’s, where it wasn't long before she was known as “The "Shoe Lady". Four years later, Albert was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and Lenora not only worked, but also stood by his side, taking care of him when needed. In November of 1988, Albert passed away and on September 24, 1989, she was united in marriage to Cecil Groven at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner. Cecil and Lenora continued to live in Garner and in 2010, “The Shoe Lady" retired at the age of 82. Family was very important to Lenora whom cherished being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to go camping and enjoyed her breakfast at Bill's Family Foods.

She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner and the Lutheran Woman's Missionary League.

Lenora will be greatly missed by her husband of 26 years, Cecil Groven; children, Lois (Don) Purcell, Dale (Alice) Roberts, and Brian (Jennifer) Roberts, all of Garner; grandchildren, Adam (Pam) Roberts of Garner, Brent (Jennifer) Roberts of Klemme, Craig (Jessica) Roberts of McDonald, PA, Brandy Roberts of Vernon, TX, Matthew (Sue Ellen) Roberts of Mason City, Patricia (Edward) Christopherson of Ankeny, IA, Nick Roberts of Mason City, Harry, Nathan, Kyle, and Zack Roberts all of Garner; step-grandchildren, Jennifer (Todd) Ofelt and Jody (Bill) Horstman; great-grandchildren, Paige, Cody, Kourtney, Brandon, Clayton, Connor, Madeline, Isabella, Tristan and Mackenzie Roberts, and Mollie Christopherson; step-great grandchildren, Tanner and Colyn Ofelt and Sydney and Mallory Horstman; brothers, Gerald (Ruby) Dohrmann of Green Bay, WI, Kenneth (VaDonna) Dohrmann of Salina, KS, and Wayne (Phyllis) Dohrmann of Manson, IA; sister-in-law, Joanne Dohrmann of Coulter, IA; along with many nieces and nephews. Lenora is also survived by Cecil’s children, Lois (Phil Perry) Nelson of Northwood, Charles Smith of Mason City, Sheryl (Jeff) Dolphin of Britt, Tammy (Mike) Baines of St. Joseph, MO, Linda (Eric) Sanders of Rochester, MN, Patricia Groven and Karen Powers, both of Manly; Cecil’s grandchildren, Russ Engstler, Jr., Scott Engstler, Lee Nelson, Thomas Smith, Dustin Schulz, Samantha Sanders, Nicholas Sanders, Alexandra Holmes and Savannah Moore; and Cecil’s great grandchildren, Emma Engstler, Marcus Engstler, Harmony Engstler, Bobby Engstler, Bennett Nelson, Xander Smith, Jackson Smith, Jacob Schulz, Sophia and Thomas Fites and Kamden Holmes.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Albert Roberts; parents, Otto and Ella Dohrmann; daughter, Judy Roberts in infancy; brother, Louis Dohrmann; and her step-son, Gaylon Roberts.