Gene Groth

 

Gene Groth, age 85, passed away in his Arizona home in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 2, 2015 following a short bout with lung cancer. Born on December 27, 1929 to Fred and Dorothy Groth, Gene led a life of integrity that held true to his final day.

Gene graduated from Postville High School in 1948 and went on to serve in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He taught flight simulators in St. John’s Newfoundland and Reykjavik, Iceland. Gene went to Luther College, and then moved on to the University of Iowa where he graduated with a degree in business.

On June 29, 1958 Gene married LaVonne Brudos. The same year he took over management of his father’s family business known as the Groth Packing Company in Postville, Iowa. He sold that in 1965 and was hired as acquisitions manager for Hubbard Milling Company of Mankato, Minnesota.

Gene embraced the wilderness when he and LaVonne purchased Borderland Lodge on Gunflint Lake in 1970. He and LaVonne moved to the Gunflint Trail and started a lifestyle that managed both the business and time to enjoy their passion of outdoor activities such as fishing and camping. Gene sold Borderland Lodge in 1975 and continued to live on Gunflint Lake.

Gene married Marie A. Mark in 1987. They spent their summers fishing the waters of northern Minnesota and every summer went on a fishing trip into Northern Ontario. One of Gene’s favorite trips was driving, camping and fishing in Alaska for six weeks with Marie.

They spent their winters in Indio, California for 23 years. They were both passionate about golf and developed a large group of friends at the Indian Palms Country Club where they lived. They moved to Arizona in 2007.

Gene loved seeing the world on a cruise ship. He and Marie went on countless cruises with friends, daughters and grandchildren. What he loved most was a trip with all the family. Marie passed away in 2009. Gene was a large part of our family. We love him and miss him dearly.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Fred Groth, his brother, Lyle Groth (1999), as well as his stepdaughter, Roberta “Pip” (Mark) Higgins (1999). Gene’s wife, Marie A. Groth, passed away in 2009.

He is survived by his two stepdaughters, Debra Mark of Grand Marais and Lindy (Mark) Melberg of Aspen, Colorado; three grandchildren, Ella, Wylie and Maggie Melberg of Aspen, Colorado, and LaVonne Barlow of Westby, Wisconsin.