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Photo of Marjorie Jane (McKinley) Groom

Marjorie Jane (McKinley) Groom

1/7/1934 - 9/29/2021


Obituary


Marjorie J. Groom, 87, of Rowan, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at her home in Rowan.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at United Church of Rowan, 811 Pesch Street in Rowan, with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiating. Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Rowan.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 4, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Marjorie Jane, daughter of Joseph and Fern (Watts) McKinley, was born on January 7, 1934 in Clarion. Marjorie grew up and attended school in Rowan. While in high school, Marjorie was on the basketball team. Following graduation, Marjorie attended AIB College of Business in Des Moines.

On April 29, 1956, Marjorie was united in marriage to Dwight Groom. The couple made their home in Rowan for a time before moving to a farm northeast of Rowan where they raised their children. They later farmed and raised Red Angus cattle west of Rowan and south of Galt. Dwight and Marjorie retired from farming in 2001 and moved into town. In August 2021, they received the Heritage Farm Award for McKinley Farm.

Marjorie worked at Acco Seed in Belmond, Brenton Bank in Clarion, and later at the Galt Post Office. She was a longtime member of the United Church of Rowan and was very active in various women’s groups and served on the Board of Wright County Opportunities. Dwight and Marjorie were passionate about serving with the Holmes Christmas Club.

Dwight and Marjorie enjoyed traveling and taking trips around the United States. She loved reading and was an avid supporter of the Rowan Library. During basketball season, Marjorie loved to watch Iowa State or local high school teams play. She spent many hours quilting with her lady’s group. Her most favorite thing was spending time with her family and attending any of their activities or sport events.

Marjorie is survived by her three children Jane (Dennis) McGrath of Clarion, Charles (Lorissa) Groom of Rowan, and Linda (Jim) Pierce of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; grandchildren Denae McGrath, Randy (Jamie) McGrath, James Ingebritson, Chase (Halee) Ingebritson, Mac Pierce, and Kailey Pierce; 11 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, along with other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dwight in 2019; infant daughter Ellen Mary Groom; parents Joseph and Fern McKinley; brother Lewis McKinley; sister Esther (Lawrence) Long; sisters-in-law Darlene (Merle) Fletcher and Margrete (Ronald Ordean) Jones; and brother-in-law Tom (Edna) Groom.