Robert E. Grothen, 90, a
resident of Illinois Veterans
Home, La Salle, died April 7,
2013, in the home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday
in Merritt Funeral Home with the Rev.
Michael Morrell officiating. Burial will
be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota with
military rites by VFW Post 4079.
Visitation will be one hour prior to
services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Grothen was born Jan. 26, 1923,
in LaMoille to Gebhard and Ida Louise
(Feick) Grothen. He married Flora Haub
on April 8, 1947, in Mendota.
He served with the U.S. Army in the
Pacific Theater of Operations during
World War II. A graduate of LaMoille
High School, he farmed in Clarion
Township until his retirement.
He is survived by three sons, Charles
(Karen) Grothen of Streator, Roy Grothen
of Plano and Chris (Colleen) Grothen
of Somonauk; five daughters, Marilee
Block of Texas, Linda (Jerry) Thorp of
Tennessee, Thelma (Dave) Holmbeck
of Hennepin, Lorraine (Mike) Terando
of Mark and Trudy (Rob) Russell of
Wenona; 17 grandchildren and numerous
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife
on May 30, 2001; one brother, William;
and one sister, Ruth.
Memorials may be directed to Illinois
Veterans Home at La Salle.