Richard Groves, 88, of Massena

Funeral Services:  Will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Massena Baptist Church with a luncheon immediately following at the Community Building in Cumberland.  Private family burial will be in the Massena Center Cemetery prior to services.  Pastor Casey Groves and Pastor Josh Heisterkamp will officiate the service.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at to be www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation:  Will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Thursday evening at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials:  May be directed to the Richard Groves Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Richard Lewis Groves passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Monday, January 15, 2024 in his home. He was born May 25, 1935 to Robert E. and Leona (Jarvis) Groves on the family farm near Massena. Rich graduated from Massena High School in 1953. He attended Iowa State, then was drafted into the Army in 1957. 

Rich married Carolyn Ann Kemp in 1958, at the Baptist Church in Cumberland on July 12, 1958. (Some say he robbed the cradle) Rich and Carolyn lived in Louisiana at Fort Polk, then in Texas at Fort Hood. Their first son, Mitchel was born while in Texas at Fort Hood. Rich and Carolyn moved to a farm north of Massena in 1959, where three more children were welcomed into the family, Trisha, Brett and Staci. 

Rich was a farmer at heart, growing crops, milking cows, and raising hogs and cattle. In his spare time, he was a Valley Mutual Insurance board member for nearly 50 years, an adjuster for Grinnell Insurance, and worked at Massena Livestock.  Rich was a very active member of the Massena Lion’s Club. He loved the Lord and was a proud member of the church family at the Massena Baptist Church.

After his “retirement”, Rich often helped on the family farm, lending a hand to his nephew and brother. He enjoyed coffee time with his lifelong friends at the Sale Barn Cafe and Main St. Bar & Grill.

Rich’s pride and joy was his family. His world revolved around his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He spent many nights in the bleachers, cheering for those he loved most. He rarely missed a concert, recital, or sporting event. The yearly Okoboji vacation was a greatly anticipated week, with seventy-two family members attending in 2023, which consisted of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Rich spent many days of that Okoboji week sitting on the dock with his grandchildren, trying his hardest to catch a fish. He was starting to believe that there were no fish in East Okoboji.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Leona; nephew, Randy Groves and his mother and father-in-law, Maurice & Doris Kemp.

Richard is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of 65 years, 4 children, 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, his brother Bobby Dale (Charlotte) Groves, his brother-in-law Scott (Laurie) Kemp, and many nieces and nephews.

Richard Groves Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

Mitchel (Karen) Groves
Christina (Jared) Ingold
Titus, Dayla, Tribe, Toven
Casey (Natalie) Groves
Navine
Dustin (Barb) Groves
Riley (Brooke) Groves
Everly, Avalina, Ivoryella, Wesley

Trisha (Kevin) McCunn
Adam (Alex) McCunn
Hallie, Brystol, Jozie, Jax
Brice (Chelsea) McCunn
Lucy, Benny, Donny
Whitney (Kevin) Schafer
Liam, Oliver, Hope, Cade
Faith (Hunter) Nielsen

Brett (Mary) Groves
Seth (Sarah) Groves
Zoey, Avery, Pearl, Mac
Sam (Dani) Groves
Dotty, Kit, Ada, Penny
Haley (Logan) Gethmann
Maddox, Ivy
Sydney (Dayton) Amdor
Sadie, Tate
Karissa Groves
Ryer “Bubba” Groves

Staci (Mark) Venteicher
Hilary (Jared) Zimmerline
Charlie, Noah
Tanner (Lauren) Runyan
Finnley
Brady Runyan  
Coby Venteicher