Earl Rose Groneman Jr. Obituary (2011 - 2011)

Grandpa AppleEarl Rose Groneman Jr., age 88, died in a tragic automobile accident on December 28, 2011, as he was on his way to do what he loved which was working in the Jordan River Temple. He was born November 8, 1923, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Earl Rose Sr. and Eliza Holley Groneman. He married Alice Taylor on November 6, 1942; the marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on October 24, 1950.My dear, sweet husband grew up in the Salt Lake Valley and we moved to Provo with our young family in 1950. We later moved to Murray, where he gardened and cooked for our family and neighbors. He retired from Valley Bank and Proctor and Gamble. He also owned the Zesto Drive-In in South Salt Lake.Earl served his country in the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1944. Then he served in the Air Force Reserve for 15 more years, earning the rank of Captain. He attended East High School and graduated from the University of Utah in 1976. Even though Grandpa Apple graduated from the U, he was an avid fan of BYU and Xavier College.Earl was an active member and high priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was serving as a temple worker at the Jordan River Temple, where he served for about 30 years. He and his wife also served two separate Humanitarian Missions.Dad and Mom were looking forward to celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary next November.Earl is survived by his wife, Alice; children Tom (Jodi), Susan Cline (Evan), Pam Manwill (Ted), Erlyn Barlocker (Brad); 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren – with two more due in July; brother Holley (Diane), sister Adele Truscott (Ken), and sister-in-law Meredith. He was preceded in death by his son Earl Terry, parents Earl Sr. and Eliza, and brother George.A viewing will be held on Monday, January 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, in Murray, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to funeral services. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 3, at 11 a.m. at the Riverside 2nd Ward, 500 West Germania Avenue, in Murray. Internment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, in Holladay. Dad- we will miss you… and your homemade rice pudding, bread, pancakes and breakfasts! “How’s the flavor?”