Conrad Frederick Grothen

Juniata resident, Conrad Frederick Grothen, 76 passed away Monday, August 12, 2019 at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare, Hastings after a 2 ½ year battle with cancer.



Services will be Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 10 AM at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial will be in the Parkview Cemetery. Visitation will be, Friday, August 16, 2019 from 1 pm to 7 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home, Hastings. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Apfel Funeral Home, Hastings is in care of the family.



Memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church, First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church or the Hastings Food Pantry all in Hastings.



Conrad was born May 15th, 1943 to George and Irma (Toepfer) Grothen in Hastings. He grew up on a farm near Juniata that his father purchased in the 1930’s. He attended Juniata Grade School and graduated from Hastings Senior High School in 1961. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Hastings College in 1965. He began his teaching career at Fairfield High School and then went on to teach at Grand Island Northwest High School. He was among the original faculty at Adams Central Junior Senior High School when it opened in 1968. He taught Social Studies, History, Speech and Dramatics.



On November 19, 1966 he married Joyce Marie Ripp of Fullerton, at First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church. They spent the next 53 years together raising their family and growing their family farm. Conrad had three loves, his family, the Lord and farming his land. Not only was farming his profession it was also his lifetime passion. Nothing made him happier than driving from farm to farm during the growing season to see how tall the corn was each week, something he was unable to do in his last days. Throughout his life, he also served on various boards that served the church and community. He was past President of the American Corn Growers Association. He served as school board President of Wallace District #60 school. He was President of the church council at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hastings. Most recently he was a board member for the Hastings Food Pantry.



He is survived by his loving wife Joyce, son, Phillip (Kim) Grothen all of Juniata, daughter, Andrea (Scott) Bissen of Overland Park, KS, son Mark (Diana) Grothen of Alhambra, CA and daughter, Julia Grothen of Juniata, grandchildren, Lauren and Alexander Bissen, step grandchildren, Ron DeVries, Jessie (Christian) Peterson, and Jamie (Curtis) Aue, step great grandchildren, Emma and Cate Peterson and Creighton and Carter Aue. nieces, Robyn Peterson and Kaeti Stanley, and nephews, Scott Zwart, Steve Zwart and John (Mary) Bunch, great nieces, Kate Sutton and Rebecca Stanley and great nephews Brett and Brad Petersen, Eric and Alan Zwart, John Stanley and Jimmy Bunch.



He was preceded in death by his parents, and infant son, Conrad Joseph, beloved sisters, Elayne and Marnis, brother-in-law, Claude Zwart.