John H. "Jack" Grote

John “Jack” Henry Grote, 93, of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa passed away at Holy Spirit Retirement Home after a brief illness on November 5th, 2024.

Visitation with family present will be on Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 3:00P.M. – 5:00 P.M. with a Rosary Service at 3:00, and a Vigil Service starting at 5:00 at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, November 11, 2024, Veteran’s Day, at Mater Dei - Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City, Iowa with Father Brad Pelzel celebrating. The burial with Military Honors will be at Memorial Park Cemetery at 1:00 PM.

Jack was born July 3, 1931, in Neola, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Rosalia (Talty) Grote. He attended a one-room country school in the Neola area and graduated from Saint Joseph High School in 1949.  After graduation, he attended business school in Omaha, Nebraska and became a certified Morse Code Operator working for the Rock Island Railroad.

Jack was drafted into the United States Army in 1951, serving two years active duty. While on active duty Jack married the love of his life Mary Lee Jorgenson. Upon release from active duty he transferred to the US Army Reserve and returned to civilian life as a Rock Island Railroad employee in Atlantic, Iowa. In 1964 he resigned from the railroad and transferred to a full time position in the Iowa National Guard. Jack eventually transferred to a unit in Sioux City, IA where he resided and raised a family of six children.

In 1991 he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 with over 40 years of total Army service. His service included many assignments across the United States plus short tours of training in Alaska, Norway, and a one-year deployment to Vietnam in 1968. He proudly served his country from the Korean War era through Desert Storm. His priorities in life have always been God, family, and country. 

Survivors include his four daughters Jennifer and her husband Dennis Hobbs of Frankfort, IL, Terri Hanner of Lincoln, NE, Deb Henry of Sgt Bluff, IA, Mary (Christy) Johnson of Mount Pleasant, SC, two sons John Grote and his wife Dawn of Sheridan, WY and David Grote with his significant other, Kelli Hendricks, of Sioux City, IA Jack also has 17 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Rosalia, his brother Joe, and sister Gloria Jacobson. Jack’s wife of 68 years Mary Lee Grote passed away in January of 2020.

Pallbearers will be Michael Perez, Collin Grote, Michael Grote, Nicholas Forss, Taylor Grote, John H. Grote III, and Jack Klawitter.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jack’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.