Eleanor M. Groene, 84, of Davenport, went to the Lord peacefully on February 14, 2023, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House surrounded by family.
Eleanor was born Feb. 28, 1938, in Ft. Madison, to Harry and Laila Schurk Roxlau. She was a 1956 graduate of Aquinas High School, Ft. Madison. Eleanor married Jack Groene on May 5, 1962, in Ft. Madison, they resided in Burlington, where they raised their six children and were members of Divine Mercy Parish (formerly St. John’s Parish).
Eleanor and Jack were married 56 years and were co-owners of the Suburban Club. Eleanor’s first job after high school was as a telephone operator with Northwestern Bell. She was the manager of General Nutrition Center at Westland Mall for over 25 years while raising her family. Eleanor was the salutatorian and homecoming queen of her high school class. She enjoyed class lunches and reunions with her classmates through the years. Eleanor was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Hawkeye basketball fan. She also enjoyed visiting casinos, practicing her faith, and spending time with family.
Surviving are her children Jean (Doug) Thomas of Cedar Rapids, Barb (Chris) Milke of Davenport, Jay Groene of Atlanta, Ga., Brad (Julie) Groene, of Colchester, Conn., Brian (Robin) Groene of Valparaiso, Ind., and Jacki (Dar) Hakimzadeh of Fulshear, Tex.; her 11 grandchildren, Alyssa (Ben Mena) Thomas, Derek (Tracie) Thomas, Emily and Chelsea Milke, Connor, and Hailey Groene, Chris (Rochelle) Cather and Courtney (Albert Shane) Groene, Alexander, Ashley, and Allie Hakimzadeh; and three great-grandsons Liam, Ryan and Zachary. Brother-In-Law Jim Sieren of Keota, a sister Carol Tweedy of Dekalb, Ill., and brother Ric Roxlau of Ft. Madison, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband in 2018, her parents, her sister Connie Sieren, and infant twin siblings.
Your patience, strength, and love for all was amazing, we can hear you humming, and your curls look great, our forever Valentine!
A rosary, which all are welcome to attend will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at Lunning Chapel, and the family will receive relatives and friends following the rosary until 8 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be at Divine Mercy (St. John’s) church in Burlington at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 18. A committal will be held following the mass, and inurnment will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery, Ft. Madison, for Jack and Eleanor on Monday, February 20 at 10 a.m.
The Mass will be live streamed on the Divine Mercy Parish Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family or to Burlington Notre Dame Foundation (St. Jude tuition assistance).