White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Rowley – Colleen C. Grover, 83 years old, of rural Rowley, Iowa, died on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  She was born on December 16, 1931, in Princeville, Illinois, the daughter of James Henry and Grace Irene (Smith) Morrissey.  She graduated from high school in Rowley with the Class of 1950.  On June 10, 1950, she and James Lee Grover were married at All Saints Catholic Church in Rowley.  For a time she worked at the Mental Health Institute and Independence Produce in Independence, Iowa.  However, she soon was a partner in the family farming operation.  She became the foreman for crews who were detasselling, baling hay, or picking up rocks.  She so enjoyed driving the tractors that her time spent in the fields was her “vacation”.  She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence and the Rosary Society.  She also enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers, especially roses.

Mrs. Grover is survived by her husband of 65 years, Jim, 7 daughters, Julie (Larry) Carver of Walker, Iowa, Jeanette Spears and Joan (Jeff) Wieland, both of Independence, Iowa, Jane (Kurt) Rich of Vinton, Iowa, Janice (Ron) Ohl and Jalleen (Jeff Franck) Grover, both of Rowley, Iowa, and Judy (Jack) Simmons of Avondale, Arizona, and 5 sons, John (Porcia) Grover, Joel (Mary) Grover, Jimmy (Robin) Grover and Mike (Brenda Youngblut) Grover, all of Rowley, Iowa, and Jeff (Rose) Grover of Independence, Iowa.  She is also survived by 47 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 2 sisters, Patricia Rasmussen of Rowley, Iowa, and Peggy (Jim) Baldwin of Hazleton, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 son in infancy, James, Jr., 1 grandson, Jackson Simmons, and 2 sisters, Marcile Peters Love and Gracie Kremer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 16, 2015, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence.  Fr. Al Vorwald will be the Celebrant.  Burial will be in Rowley Cemetery in Rowley, Iowa.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14^th, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.  A Parish Rosary begins at 3 p.m. and a Vigil Service begins at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.