DONALD DAVID GROENING

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DONALD DAVID GROENING It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Don Groening of Starbuck, MB, beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend on Thursday, March 7 at the Grace Hospital. Don was born in Estevan, SK on May 22, 1953. He married Irene on June 29, 1974. He was employed at Winnipeg Transit as a diesel mechanic for 28 years. Don loved his work, and had many friends among his coworkers. His many hobbies included gunsmithing, knifesmithing, hunting and fishing which he pursued with fervour. Don and Irene gained a whole new family of friends with their fishing expeditions to Clark Lake in northern Manitoba. Dons newest passion in life was his grandson Austin (Bud) and granddaughter Sydney (Angel Face). The times he spent with them were very, very SPECIAL to him and them. To help them remember him and get through each day, their Papa wrote a waking prayer for them. " Thank You Lord, I do pray For this brand new day. I Praise you Lord - In all I do, As I wake up this new morning with You." Don Groening March 4, 2002 Surviving to mourn his passing is his beloved wife and soul mate Irene; daughter Kristy, her husband Kris Smith and their children Austin and Sydney; and sons, Scott and Lucas. He is also survived by his precious parents, Ben and Betty Groening of Winkler; his mother-in-law Eva Peters of Pilot Mound; his sister Esther (Larry) Little; his brother Gerry (Bonny) Groening, his brother James (Susie) Groening of Kelowna, BC; his brothers-in-law, Menno Peters, David Peters and Gordon Stiff, and many nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his precious daughter Jenny (Tootsie) his brothers, Walter and Andrew; his sister-in-law Linda; and his father-in-law Pete Peters. We pray he will find them all, and many other friends and family in heaven. What for us is a blessed hope, which we have, is now for Don a blessed reality. Let his friends and family rejoice that he accepted the Lord as his Saviour. He asks for everyones forgiveness for any of his transgressions through life. His passionate prayer was for everyone he knew to also find the Lord as their own personal Saviour. Irene and the family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to family, friends, who visited and sent their prayers during Dons long battle with cancer. A very special thanks goes to the nurses, at the Grace Hospital for all their acts of kindness, gentle hands and kind words. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Starbuck. Viewing will be one half hour prior to the service with interment in the Starbuck Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be his brothers, Gerald Groening, James Groening, Larry Little, Menno Peters, David Peters and special friend Rod Reykdal. Honorary pallbearers, Kevin Mills, Arnold Poirier, John Hall, Brent Martens, Jerry Claeys, Johnny Dyck, Wayne House, Harry Thiessen, Ron Thiessen, Harv Bergen, and Jake Bergen. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 11, 2002