John Grove

John R. Grove of Duchess, Ab passed away peacefully on April 27, 2020 at the age of 92 after a short illness. John was born in Ringwood, Ontario on September 8, 1927, where he grew up on the family farm. In 1948 at the age of 21, he and two friends headed out west in his 1930 Model A. He landed at Duchess, Ab where he went to work and soon met his future wife Melita Friesen. They were married in October 1950 at the Duchess Mennonite Church where John remained a lifetime member. Four sons and a daughter followed. John worked at the Duchess Garage in the fifties, later farmed, and was employed at the Brooks Hospital. In the 1970’s John served on the board for Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service for a total of eleven years. In 1977 John and Melita volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service working Big Thompson Canyon Flood Recovery in Colorado. After this they served at Grace Children’s Hospital in Haiti with International Child Care. He also started Grove Construction. He mostly enjoyed building churches; eight in total. In 2003, they moved to Medicine Hat Chinook Village. After 61 years of marriage, in January 2012, Melita went to be with Jesus. In 2013 John moved to Newbrook Lodge in Brooks, then to Sunrise Gardens until his passing. He enjoyed the friendships developed in these retirement homes and was grateful for the care. John enjoyed working hard, gardening, and serving those in need. He had a steadfast, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. John was predeceased by parents Ezra and Susanna Grove, son Joe in 1972, and daughter Debra Lantz in 2001. John is survived by his brother Albert Grove (Judy), sisters Ellen Burkholder and Anne Mason, all of Ontario; sons Gordon(Karen), Albert (Susan), and Tom(Joanne); grandchildren Shane, BJ, Janna, Daryl, Trevor, Joe, Karla, Chase, Destinee and many great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.

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