Veronika Grohs Farmer Obituary (1948 - 2019)

Veronika Grohs Farmer, 71, died peacefully in her home in South Jordan, Utah, in the presence of family on May 5, 2019. Veronika, a devoted wife and mother, was dedicated to rearing her children in righteousness and to serving God. She was born in Graz, Austria, on March 2, 1948, to Alois and Johanna Grohs. She cherished her Catholic upbringing and was heavily influenced by it. At age 15, Veronika joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a committed member ever since. Veronika moved on her own to New York City when she was 17 years old. She graduated from cosmetology school and worked as a hairstylist. At age 21, she became a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines, serving as an employee for 13 years. Veronika met her husband Robert Farmer of Pocatello, Idaho, in their Manhattan chapel. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1970. They shared a life of international adventure and traveled the world with boundless energy, including Central and South America, Europe, and Israel. Due to Robert’s career in the FBI as an agent and diplomatic Legal Attaché, they moved from New York to Puerto Rico, then to Chicago and eventually to Washington, D.C. Next they moved to Paris, France, and Vienna, Austria. Veronika was masterful at hosting dignitaries in her home, carrying herself with elegance and poise. They were blessed with six children during these busy years. Robert and Veronika settled for 22 years in Redmond, Washington, where Robert retired. They then moved to South Jordan, Utah, to be closer to some of their children and grandchildren. Not only was Veronika beautiful to behold, she adorned her home with loveliness, cleanliness and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was vivacious, creative, and industrious. She worked tirelessly in service to meet every need that she saw. Veronika was known for many things, to include her gospel scholarship and memorization of scriptures, her love for gardening and landscaping, and her passion for classical music. She had an unflinching conviction about the value of music in the lives of her children. She had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed hearing and telling jokes. She was committed to all her volunteer work. She thrived when teaching younger children, especially as Primary president in Vienna at church. Organizing community concerts in Redmond at the local church building was a highlight as part of her missionary assignment. Veronika enjoyed classic literature and had a vast vocabulary that impressed her children and grandchildren. On her long daily walks she could often be seen with scripture verses in hand. She was imaginative and playful as she interacted with her grandchildren, especially in nature. She loved the pioneers and Church history, with a particular passion for Church history sites including Nauvoo, Palmyra, and This is the Place State Park. She was an avid fan of Brigham Young University and proudly declared herself a “graduate” of BYU education week, year after year. Veronika attended weekly religion courses up until her final months. Her greatest legacy was setting a high standard for excellence, achievement and gospel teachings in her home. Her children honor her for it. Veronika loved God above all else, never denying God’s bounty, blessings, and purposes even in her deep trials. She battled cancer these past two years with grit and grace. We are indebted to Dr. Gilcrease and the medical team at Huntsman for prolonging her life. She is survived by her spouse Robert Farmer, her children Mark (Tara) Farmer, Björn (Cydnee) Farmer, Ingrid (Matthias) Kellmer, Antje Farmer, Sören (Jasmin) Farmer, and Cécile (Rick) Casali as well as her beloved 15 grandchildren, and her dear sister Lucia Grohs. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Huntsman Cancer Institute. We honor her wish for a graveside service for family and friends (standing-room only) which will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 1 p.m. Please consider visiting her spouse Robert Farmer at Sagewood at Daybreak Assisted Living (11289 S Oakmond Rd, South Jordan, UT 84009) or sending cards to offer condolences.