Submited by: Dan Rich
Cornelis J. Groot
South Bend Tribune 11/20/2002
Cornelis J. Groot, 80, passed away after an extended illness on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Healthwin Specialized Care Center. He was born in Warmenhuizen, N.H., the Netherlands, on Aug. 7, 1922, to the late Johannes and Anna Maria (Van Lierop) Groot. Cor was also preceded in death by an infant son; his sisters, Marie, Angelina, Elizabeth and Anna; and by his brothers, Joseph, Jacob and Pieter.
On May 31, 1951, he married Alida Dekker, and they emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of his maternal uncle, Joseph Van Lierop of Keeler farm in Michigan. Contacts through his maternal aunt and uncle, Cornelia and Bernardus Vanderbeek, brought them to the South Bend, Ind., area where they have lived ever since. Cor received his diploma from the technical school in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. He survived a forced labor camp at a munitions factory in Germany during the Nazi occupation of Holland in World War II, and served as a ship's mechanic in the Dutch Merchant Marines. In the U.S. he worked for Bendix Home Products, Lovett Tool and Die. Cor retired as a mechanical engineer for NIBCO in Elkhart, Ind., after 26 years of service in 1984, and served as a project consultant for several years thereafter. He was a longtime member of the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
He is survived by his wife, Alida Groot of South Bend; his children, Hendrica (Doug) Sisk of South Bend, John (Ann) Groot of Carmel, Ind., Cathy (Ed) Strole of Brownsburg, Ind., Mary (Bill) Quig and Hank (Jeannine) Groot of South Bend, and Richard (Linda) Groot of Covington, Ky.; and by 11 grandchildren, Daena and Jessica Sisk, Sam and Lily Groot, Eric and Ryan Strole, Alec, Lauren and Adrienne Quig, and Joey and Ali Groot. He is also survived by his sisters, Afra and Antonia; and by his brothers, Adrian and Ambrose in Holland. His family and friends will remember him as a man who could fix or install anything. Cor really enjoyed traveling and camping, and had a facility with languages, a sensitivity for the less fortunate, a strong faith, and a rich baritone voice.
He was a member of the parish and choir of St. Bavo in Mishawaka, where the funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Friends may also call from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 20, in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd St., Mishawaka, where a Rosary will be recited at 7:45 p.m. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of South Bend.