RUSSELL - Services for Caroline DeGrote, 87, of Russell will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at
Grace First Parish in Russell.
Visitation is one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Russell City Cemetery.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home, Utoft-Johansen Chapel in Tyler.
She died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at Avera Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler.
Caroline Laura DeGrote was born Feb. 26, 1929, to John and Lena (Van Roekel) Schelhaas on a farm near Edgerton. She was raised on several farms in Pipestone and Murray counties in Minnesota. She attended school in Chandler, Hatfield, and Edgerton. Upon completion of her education, she helped area families with their housework.
On June 14, 1951, Caroline was united in marriage to Henry DeGrote in Edgerton. Following their marriage they lived on a farm near Ruthton. A year later, they moved to Edgerton. When their youngest child started school, Caroline began working part-time at Fey Industries in Edgerton. In September 1979, they moved to Russell where she worked for Speedway Moving and Storage. After their retirement in March 1983, they spent their winters in Texas until 2006. On Nov. 3, she entered the care of Avera Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler. Caroline was a member of Grace First Parish in Russell. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, tatting, and embroidery. She especially enjoyed camping, square dancing, biking, walking, and feeding and watching the birds.
Survivors include her four children, Gerald DeGrote and his wife Kitty of Hastings, Sharon DeGrote of Orlando, Florida, Darla Winkelhorst and her husband Loren of West Bend, Iowa, and Beth DeGrote (Rob Hurd) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob Schelhaas and his wife Gladys of Jasper and Nelvin Schelhaas of Luverne; one sister, Laura Posthuma of Florida; and brother-in-law, Gary Posthuma of Lake Wilson; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; her parents; a sister, Janice Posthuma; and sister-in-law, Geneva Schelhaas.
Blessed be her memory.
Henry Donald DeGrote was born to Rhinder and Lydia (Timmerman) DeGrote on January 7, 1926
on a farm in Nobles County, Minnesota where he was raised and attended country school.
When he was 12 years old, he moved with his parents to a farm in Ellsborough Township,
between Ruthton and Balaton, Minnesota.
He continued his education at the high school in Ruthton.
After his graduation, he worked for the area farmers and also drove truck.
On September 12, 1946, he entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He was discharged from the service on September 12, 1948. At that time, he returned to the family farm and worked for the area farmers.
On June 14, 1951, he was united in marriage to Caroline Laura Schelhaas in Edgerton, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm near Ruthton. A year later, they moved to Edgerton where Henry worked at the school and also drove truck for Menning Transfer. When this company closed in September, 1979, they moved to Russell, Minnesota where he drove truck for Murphy Transport. After his retirement in March, 1983, he and his wife spent their winters in Texas until 2006. Henry died at the Golden Living Center in Franklin, Minnesota on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the age of 86 years.
Henry was a member of Grace First Parish - Presbyterian in Russell, Minnesota. When his children were young, he volunteered as a Boy Scout leader. He also volunteered as an EMT with the ambulance service in Edgerton, Minnesota. He enjoyed camping, woodworking, square dancing and walking.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Caroline DeGrote of Russell, Minnesota; four children, Gerald DeGrote and his wife Kitty of Hastings, Minnesota, Sharon DeGrote of Denver, Colorado, Darla Winkelhorst and her husband Loren of West Bend, Iowa, and Beth DeGrote of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Wayne (and Irene) DeGrote of Seal Beach, California, LeRoy (and Delores) DeGrote of Slayton, Minnesota, and Lester DeGrote of Punta Gorda, Florida; a sister, Lois (and Curtis) Erickson of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Rhinard, Tony, James and Merle; and a sister, Pearl Jacobson.
Jacob Melvin "Jake" Schelhaas was born on October 28, 1934 to John and Lena
(Van Roekel) Schelhaas in Murray County, Minnesota.
He was born into a family of five siblings, two sisters, Carolyn and Laura, brother,
Nelvin, another brother who was taken to heaven upon birth, and a sister, Janice, to
complete their family.
Jake learned how to work hard at a very young age and after completing his education through the eighth grade, he began working. He continued to work until his body began to wear out. He had a love for animals and treated the livestock he was entrusted to care for with great pride, and loved to share his snacks with the family pets. His children always joked he came to visit their dogs instead of them.
In 1955, Jake enlisted in the Army and served for 3 years. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Jake found the lady he would spend the rest of his life with, Gladys Wassenaar, one Sunday night at the Steen Reformed Church. On September 30, 1960, they were married at that same church and lived the vows they made that day for over 61 years, most of those years spent in Woodstock, Minnesota.
Jake was a faithful member of American Reformed Church in Woodstock until he and Gladys retired and moved to Jasper. They became members of the Jasper Methodist Church at that time. They lived together until Jake entered Hospice to live his last days eating as many cookies as he wanted and drinking coffee. On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Jake passed away peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota at the age of 87 years.
Through their lifetime together they were blessed with three children:
Brian (Barb) - Alec (Ashley Caldwell)
Lowell (Hope) - Nicole and Jenna
Lynette (Rick) Ossefoort - Chessa (Orrie) Frahm and Adam (Racheal) Ossefoort
Jake wore many titles through the years but the one he was most proud of was grandpa.
He wore his Luverne Cardinal apparel with great pride.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lena; parents-in-law, William and Grace Wassenaar; daughter-in-law, LeAnn; siblings and spouses, Carolyn and Henry DeGroot, Laura and Gerrit Posthuma, Nelvin and Geneva Schelhaas, Janice Posthuma; brother-in-law, Gerrit Wassenaar; and sister-in-law, Bev Wassenaar.
To continue living life without him are his immediate family, Gladys, Brian, Barb, Alec, Lowell, Hope, Nicole, Jenna, Lynette, Rick, Chessa, Orrie, Adam, Racheal, sister-in-law, Betty Ackermann and her husband, Jerry, Bonnie Shelton and her husband, Dave, Nelva Behr and her husband, Ron; brother-in-law, Gary Posthuma; sister-in-law, Beverly Wassenaar; nieces, nephews, and many more family and friends.
