Gretel Liane Groeneveld

Wiarda (Gretel) Liane Groeneveld was born to German immigrants, Hinderk and Hella Groeneveld, in Grundy Center, Iowa on May 10, 1932. She lived on a farm outside of Dike, Iowa, and attended a country school there. In 1938, when Gretel was 6 years old, she moved with her family to a farm outside Sultan, Washington. There, she attended Sultan schools, graduating as an honor student in 1950. Gretel was active in band, playing clarinet and piano.

With her family, Gretel attended the Sultan Christian Reformed Church. Later, she became a life-long member of the Monroe Christian Reformed (New Hope) Church, where she served as Sunday school teacher, and Bible school teacher. A devout Christian, Gretel was a great supporter of many Christian causes.

After high school, Gretel attended a college in Iowa, later transferring to Seattle Pacific College, where she received a degree in elementary education. She went on to teach at Wapato Elementary in eastern Washington, then taught for a time in Marysville, Washington. Up until retirement, Gretel spent many years teaching at Liberty Christian School in Everett, Washington.

Gretel loved to travel and was blessed with many opportunities to see new sights. Her travels, with her college friend, Betty, or with various family members, took her all over Europe, especially to Germany where she visited with extended family and friends, to every state in the U.S., to Canada, Mexico, and as far as Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel—which was the highlight, as she loved being able to walk in the footsteps of her Savior.

Gretel was an avid photographer. In her retirement years, she spent countless hours organizing her extensive collection of photos, and sharing them with family. She also continued to enjoy her music, playing piano in various capacities over the years.

Though Gretel never married or had children of her own, she was well-loved by her extensive family and network of friends.

Gretel was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Lillian Pattie and Adeline Inge-Pattie, her brothers Henry Groeneveld and Wiard Groeneveld, her brothers-in-law Sonny and Brad, and her nephews Stephen and Gary. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Jean and Linda, as well as nieces and nephews too many to name, all of whom loved and cherished their Aunt Gay Gay.

Gretel will be sorely missed, but we are comforted in the knowledge that she is in the hands of her Heavenly Father, and joyously reunited with all her beloved family that went before her.

Private services in Gretel’s honor will be held in February. Donations in her memory can be made to her church, New Hope Fellowship Monroe.