Linda Groeneweg

Linda Wyona Groeneweg was born, August 21, 1934 at the Trinity Hospital in Ashland, Wisconsin.   She passed away at the age of 85, on Tuesday, October 8, 2019.  She weighed 2lb. 14 ½ oz.  She was the first daughter of Reuben and Agnes Wicklund of Mason, Wisconsin.  Linda attended Becker grade school through 8th grade and walked the 1 ¼ miles each day to class.  She attended Ondossago High School for her 9-12th grades and graduated as Valedictorian of her senior class.  Following high school, she attended Northwestern College in downtown Minneapolis, graduating with the June Class of 1955.  She was united in marriage to her college sweetheart, Robert W. Groeneweg on June 25, 1955 in the chapel where they first met three years earlier.  Bob and Linda oversaw a Youth for Christ Bible Team.  On the way back from their honeymoon, they stopped and watched the kids win the quizzing at the Winona Bible Camp Grounds (campgrounds of the Billy Tabernacle).  The team went on to the Internationals and won!

All her life, she was involved with music; beginning with taking piano lessons at the age of 10.  She started her first piano playing for a Sunday School Christmas program in December 1945.  She played for Sunday School at her home church, Bethany Baptist.  From the age 12 she played for the church services until she left for college in the fall of 1952.  In high school, she played the bass drum, the flute, Glock-in-spiel, and accompanied many students during high school events.   She played her accordion, Glock-in-spiel, flute and auto harp in church, at bible camp and other events for several years.  At Northwestern College she went to missions downtown and played her accordion.  Linda played the piano, organ and accordion at many churches and was in the Northwestern College Band and ladies flute quartet.  Over the years she played for many weddings and funerals.  She was the organist/pianist at St. Louis Park Evangelical Free Church, Grace Alliance Grace, Immanuel Baptist Church and Forest Lake Christian Church.  She was also the accompanist for funerals at Mattson Funeral Home, where her husband would lend his gift of singing. For over 19 years, Linda led the choir, Ladies Ensemble, Youth Band, and sang in trio at Grace Alliance in Forest Lake.  She was also an AWANA director and commander. During those years Linda enjoyed working with the Ladies Missionary group, WMPF and used her musical gifts alongside her husband at local nursing homes for many years.  Linda proudly taught over 75 piano and organ students through her years.  She counted it a privilege to use her God given talents for her precious Lord and Saviour.

Linda enjoyed sewing, making quilts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and lots of clothes for them as well.   She loved to sew for her children as they were growing up, taking photos and collecting stamps.  She worked at Wal-Mart for almost five years in the Fabric Department.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Agnes and Reuben Wicklund; husband, Robert Groeneweg; granddaughter, Aimee Elizabeth Hansen.  She will be deeply missed by her children, Kenneth (Donna), Keith (Kelly), Karlo (Kris), Roberta (Brad) Hansen; grandchildren, Crystal (Shawn) Bachman, Kenneth (Emily) Groeneweg, Candi (Chad) Chapman, Naomi (Brandon) Johnston, Danielle (Mark) Schlegel, Benjamin Groeneweg, Kaitlin Groeneweg, Emily (Dustin) Williams, Abigail Groeneweg, Jarod Bowers, Isaac Hansen, Caleb Hansen, Jacob Hansen, Joshua Hansen, Lilyana Louise Hansen; great-grandchildren, Lacylynn Mae Bachman, Grance Bachman, Brooklyn Bachman, Kyanne Berg, Leyna Berg, Isabella Hansen, Heidi Hansen, Paxton Chapman, Astrid Hansen, Ian Hansen, Anora Rose Groeneweg, Esma Raine Groeneweg, Cole Edward Schlegel; siblings, Hildur (Roy) Anderson, Marlys (Rand) Settell, Marlene (Harley) Hagstrom; many nieces, nephews, dear friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 18, 2019 at Maranatha Assembly of God, 24799 Forest Blvd. North, Forest Lake.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Forest Lake.  Memorials are preferred to University of Northwestern or Focus on the Family.

Linda’s life verse was Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.”   “Brighten the corner, where you are, someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar.  Brighten the corner, where you are!  Is your corner brighter because of you?  That is a challenge for each of us.  Works that are done out of love for Jesus shine brightest in a dark world.  We are all like a lighthouse: “It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it.  Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining, they just shine.