Lorraine Ruth, the daughter of Adrian and Marie (Vander Lugt) Dekkers, was born on her family’s farm near Hawarden. She was raised on the farm and attended a country school nearby through the fourth grade. She completed her primary education at the Hawarden Public School and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull in 1957.

On October 30, 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, William Groeneweg. They briefly made their home in Hawarden before moving to Hull, where they raised their family. In addition to being a stay-at-home mother, she worked part time as a certified nurse’s aide at the Rock Valley and Hull nursing homes. In 1981, they opened the first Pizza Ranch in Hull, which has since expanded to over 200 stores. After more than 45 years in Hull, Mr. and Mrs. Groeneweg moved to Orange City in 2003, where Bill passed away on February 25, 2018.

In earlier years, the couple were members of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull, where Lorraine belonged to the Mission Guild and other Bible studies, and taught Friendship Bible classes. After moving to Orange City, they became members of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church, where Lorraine attended Harmony Circle. She was also active in the community, volunteering at the Bible for Missions store and with the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice.

Bill and Lorraine liked to travel and spend time at their home on East Lake Okoboji, where they enjoyed many hours of boating and skiing with their family. Spending time with her grandchildren was important to Lorraine and she showed her support by attending their various extracurricular activities and by making each of them a quilt. She prayed daily for her entire family and wanted them to continue to grow in their faith.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Cindy and Jerry Vande Pol, of Sioux Falls; two sons and their wives, Adrie and Marla Groeneweg, and Scott and Kim Groeneweg, all of Orange City; eleven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Wilma Obbink; a brother and his wife, Daryl and Carolyn Dekkers; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Groeneweg, and Carol, and her husband, Dallas Apol; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, parents-in-law, Walt and Jesamine Groeneweg, and husband of 59 years, she was preceded in death by four brothers-in-law, Richard Obbink, Wally Groeneweg, Ronald Groeneweg, and Verlyn Groeneweg.

LORRAINE R. GROENEWEGborn

December 21, 1938; Hawarden, Iowa

passed awayMay 26, 2021; Sioux Falls, South Dakota

age82 years, 5 months, 5 days

funeral serviceTuesday; June 1, 2021; 10:00 a.m.

Calvary Christian Reformed Church; Orange City, Iowa

clergymanThe Rev. John Klompien

organistJulia Huisman

congregational hymns"Amazing Grace"

“What A Day That Will Be”

special music“Does Jesus Care”

Leah Groeneweg, vocalist

recorded medleyCynthia Vande Pol, vocalist

casket bearersactive

Lance Vande Pol Spencer GroenewegRoss Groeneweg Brady Groeneweg Trenton Groeneweg Dylan Groeneweg

Tait Groeneweg

honoraryGreg Helenburg Jeremy Westerman Steven Ballard

intermentHope Cemetery; Hull, Iowa

Following the funeral service, before proceeding to the cemetery, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the church fellowship hall,

on the lower level, for lunch and fellowship

Memorials may be directed to any area Christian school.