Robert Grote
July 31, 1922 — March 14, 2019
Robert William Grote, son of William and Julia (Lutsgraaf) Grote, was born on July 31, 1922 near Neola, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola and started his education at St. Patrick’s Catholic School. His family then moved to a farm near Portsmouth, Iowa where they joined St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Robert completed his high school education at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Portsmouth graduating with the class of 1940.
After high school, Robert worked with his father on the family farm. On July 10, 1945, entered the United States Army at Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas. While in the service, Robert was in a flash fire explosion on August 12, 1946 while cleaning a motor pool in Berlin, Germany. Robert and one other serviceman escaped the explosion with serious burn injuries but seven service men were lost in the accident. With his recovery taking him from Germany to Paris, France to the Azores Islands then to Gandor Bay, Newfoundland, Robert finally arrived at Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan to complete his nearly one year recovery from the accident.
Robert received his honorable discharge on August 27, 1947 at Fort Custer in Michigan. While in the service, Robert attended Military Police School in France and went on to serve as a Military Policeman for the United States Army. He was awarded the American Theater Ribbon as well as the World War II Victory Medal for his time of service in Germany. When Robert returned to Portsmouth he continued working on the family farm. In 1955, he began his long time career as the Post Master of the Portsmouth Post Office a position he held until 1984.
Robert was an avid traveler who took three trips around the globe with his favorite traveling companions: Monsignor Schwarte and Don Leinen. They spent time in Cairo, Egypt, visited the pyramids in Giza, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the ancient city in Bangkok, Thailand, the Buddha Statue and caves in Bamiyan, Afghanistan and hundreds of other beautiful and scenic places around the world. They also spent a great deal of time visiting Bishop Arkfeld, a Panama, Iowa native, in Papua, New Guinea.
In addition to traveling, Robert also enjoyed rock hunting and bowling and participated on a local team that qualified for the 1962 National Bowling Congress Tournament in Des Moines in 1962. He also enjoyed wine making, gardening and watching home movies. He also was a very dedicated member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth where he was active in the choir and a long time member of the Knight’s of Columbus achieving the rank of Fourth Degree on November 5, 1972.
Robert died on March 14, 2019 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of ninety-six years, seven months and fourteen days. In addition to his mother and father, Robert was preceded in death by his brothers Fred, Jim, Thomas and LeRoy Grote. He is survived by his brother Raphael Grote and his wife Margaret of Dunlap, Iowa; his sister Hilary and her husband Peter Gaul of Melbourne, Florida; sisters-in-law Theresa Grote of Portsmouth, Iowa and Betty Grote of Earling, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
PLEASE NOTE: Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary's Parish Hall in Portsmouth, Iowa while the church in under construction.
After high school, Robert worked with his father on the family farm. On July 10, 1945, entered the United States Army at Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas. While in the service, Robert was in a flash fire explosion on August 12, 1946 while cleaning a motor pool in Berlin, Germany. Robert and one other serviceman escaped the explosion with serious burn injuries but seven service men were lost in the accident. With his recovery taking him from Germany to Paris, France to the Azores Islands then to Gandor Bay, Newfoundland, Robert finally arrived at Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan to complete his nearly one year recovery from the accident.
Robert received his honorable discharge on August 27, 1947 at Fort Custer in Michigan. While in the service, Robert attended Military Police School in France and went on to serve as a Military Policeman for the United States Army. He was awarded the American Theater Ribbon as well as the World War II Victory Medal for his time of service in Germany. When Robert returned to Portsmouth he continued working on the family farm. In 1955, he began his long time career as the Post Master of the Portsmouth Post Office a position he held until 1984.
Robert was an avid traveler who took three trips around the globe with his favorite traveling companions: Monsignor Schwarte and Don Leinen. They spent time in Cairo, Egypt, visited the pyramids in Giza, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the ancient city in Bangkok, Thailand, the Buddha Statue and caves in Bamiyan, Afghanistan and hundreds of other beautiful and scenic places around the world. They also spent a great deal of time visiting Bishop Arkfeld, a Panama, Iowa native, in Papua, New Guinea.
In addition to traveling, Robert also enjoyed rock hunting and bowling and participated on a local team that qualified for the 1962 National Bowling Congress Tournament in Des Moines in 1962. He also enjoyed wine making, gardening and watching home movies. He also was a very dedicated member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth where he was active in the choir and a long time member of the Knight’s of Columbus achieving the rank of Fourth Degree on November 5, 1972.
Robert died on March 14, 2019 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of ninety-six years, seven months and fourteen days. In addition to his mother and father, Robert was preceded in death by his brothers Fred, Jim, Thomas and LeRoy Grote. He is survived by his brother Raphael Grote and his wife Margaret of Dunlap, Iowa; his sister Hilary and her husband Peter Gaul of Melbourne, Florida; sisters-in-law Theresa Grote of Portsmouth, Iowa and Betty Grote of Earling, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
PLEASE NOTE: Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary's Parish Hall in Portsmouth, Iowa while the church in under construction.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Grote, please visit our flower store.