Alta Mae Groeneweg

Rock Valley, IA: Alta Mae Groeneweg, 93, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 15, at 10:30 AM at the Rock Valley United Reformed Church with Rev. Caleb Castro officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held Monday, October 14, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Rock Valley URC.

 Memorials may be directed to Hope Haven (https://www.hopehaven.org/). Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley has been entrusted with Alta’s funeral arrangements.

 Alta Mae Groeneweg was born April 18, 1931, in Long Island, Kansas to Henry and Christina (Vander Plas) Kats. As a child, Alta and her family moved to Rock Valley, Iowa and she graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. On October 14, 1953, she married Walter Groeneweg and together they made their home northeast of Rock Valley where Alta stayed home to raise their 4 children. During those years she did a lot of gardening which yielded a bountiful fruit cellar. She also did a lot of sewing and crocheting and enjoyed reading, puzzles, and was still crocheting scarves for the orphan train until quite recently.

 Alta served for many years for Hope Haven first as an apartment trainer and for Hope Haven Int’l wheelchair ministries. She traveled abroad to Vietnam, Guatemala, and Romania to help distribute them. She also volunteered at Love INC.

 Alta is survived by her children: son, Leon Robert “Bob” (Cherie) Groeneweg of Rock Valley and their children, Morgen, Kelcie, and Erin, daughter, Laura Beth (Greg) Getting of Sheldon and their children, Cody and Carter, daughter-in-law, Joan Groeneweg of Rock Valley and her children, Rose, Miranda, and Nathan, and son-in-law, Henry Blankespoor of Doon and his children, Dexter, Brett and Levi; 21 great-grandchildren; and Alta’s siblings, Gerrit Kats, Kenneth Kats, Alvin Kats, Betty Hoogendoorn, and Wanda Siebelink.

 Alta was preceded in death by her husband, Walt; son, Dennis Groeneweg; daughter, Gail Blankespoor; grandson, Brock Kleinwolterink; and siblings, Joan Groeneweg, John Kats, Paul Kats, Harley Kats, Ed Kats, and Larry Kats.