Rev. Edward Matthew Groop

Rev. Edward M. Groop, age 83, of French Lake, died Friday, July 10, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Private Funeral Services for immediate family members will be held 11:00 a.m, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel with Pastor DelRoy Johnson officiating. The funeral will be live-streamed on Dingmann Funeral Care's website. Private family burial will follow at Our Saviour's Lutheran Cemetery, French Lake. Public visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale. Edward's family requests that all attendees wear a mask or face covering. 

Rev. Edward Matthew Groop was born in Aberdeen, SD on October 24, 1936 to Edward and Signe (Gustafson) Groop. He was baptized at Savo Lutheran Church in Frederick, South Dakota and later confirmed in his faith at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Berkeley, California. Edward graduated from Berkeley High School. He continued his education at San Francisco State and at the University of California, Berkeley and completed Seminary at Pacific Lutheran Seminary in Berkeley. On August 22, 1958, he was united in marriage to Margaret Mae Leinonen at St. Michael's in Berkeley, CA; they were blessed with four sons and 61 years together. Pastor Groop served many congregations and communities over the years starting in 1964 at St. Henry's Lutheran in Nisula, MI, Elo, MI and Faith Lutheran in Pelkie, MI. After 5 years, they moved to New Berry, MI, where he served at Our Redeemer Lutheran for 4 years. For 27 years, Pastor Groop served at Svea Lutheran in Hager City, WI and Tabor Lutheran in Bay City, WI. In 2000, Margaret and Edward moved to French Lake where Pastor Groop served for 16 years at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, retiring in 2017. Pastor Groop enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and sharing a good joke. He loved the time he was able to spend with his wife and their four sons.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret; four sons, Marc (Judy), Karl and John all of Ontonagon, MI, and Eric of Beldenville, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Signe.

 

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