April 6, 1969 – March 21, 2021

Jolene Faye Groen was born on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1969, in Pipestone, Minn., to John Henry and Joanne (Bothof) Groen. She grew up on the family farm five miles south of Chandler, Minn. Her parents raised her in the Christian faith, and she was baptized and made profession of faith in the Chandler Reformed Church. Christian Schools also played a big part in her life, as Jolene attended the Chandler Christian Elementary School then on to Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton. Growing up on the farm she helped by walking beans, milking cows, and picking rocks. After graduation she attended and graduated from Northwestern College, in Orange City, Iowa. Later she attended the University of Iowa and earned her Masters’ Degree in Social Services.

Family and music have always played important parts in Jolene’s life. She enjoyed singing, playing piano and organ, and going to concerts. Her love of family became stronger after her mom became sick and died of cancer. Jolene moved back home to help her dad with the role of raising her four nieces as her own children. She enjoyed attending the girls’ activities and never missed a sporting event. She even traveled to Australia with Cassie and Chantel when Chantel participated in the “Down Under” track meet. Jolene went on a mission trip to Cuba with the girls, and she enjoyed traveling to Arizona to visit family. She continued helping out her siblings in the “grandma” role of her nieces and nephews.

Jolene enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, Jocelyn, Carson, Emily and Olivia. She took them to the zoo, Disney on Ice, and enjoyed just hanging out with them on the farm. She also loved spending time taking care of and playing games with Kaiden and Timothy when they visited the farm for several weeks each summer and also spending time watching Lincoln play ball or working on crafts and sewing with Madison. Her love of shopping showed when she went for the girls, the grandchildren, and for herself.

Jolene assisted with starting LifeLight and was the events director for 15 years. She also worked for Child Protection, Bethany Christian Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and currently worked as a counselor for Greater Minnesota. She was part of the Board of Directors for LifeLight, The Teddy Bear Den, and the Chandler Christian School, and was a youth group counselor.

Jolene’s biggest passion in life was to share the gospel “but not to water it down,” and that was present throughout her life.

On Sunday, March 21, while she was at Ava’s Hospice House, Jolene went to be with our Lord and Savior. She fought a good fight and served the Lord well. She was such a good and faithful servant of the Lord.

Jolene is survived by her father John Henry (Marcella) Groen, Chandler; daughters/nieces, Clarissa (Casey) Wilson and their children Jocelyn, Carson, Emily and Olivia from Pipestone; Chelsey (Jon) Kroll, Chandler; Cassandra (Dylan) Walhof, Chandler; Chantel (Wesley) Vis, Valley Springs, S.D.; her brother, Jason (Kyle) Bronson-Groen and their children Dylan, Kaiden, Timothy from Laveen, Ariz., and her sister, Julie (Jim) Sherman and their children Lincoln and Madison from Luverne, Minn. Special friends in her life also included Julie Klinger, Darrell and Tiletta Statema, and Alan and Vicki Greene.

She was preceded in death by her mom, Joanne Wilma Groen, her brother, John Henry Groen Jr., and her grandparents, John and Johanna Bothof and Henry John and Mary J. Groen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Lost Timber Bible Camp in Chandler or Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools in Edgerton.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 2, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 – 10:30 at the church with the memorial services to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 3. Interment will be at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery following the service. Alan Greene will be officiating the service with Rev. Seth Atsma assisting.

Casketbearers are Lincoln Sherman, Kaiden Bronson-Groen, Mike Groen, Gordon Groen, John Bothof, and Andrew Klinger.