June Grove

June Rosalee Grove, 94, passed from this life November 28, 2019 at the English Valley Care Center in North English. She was born May 22, 1925 in Rochester, Indiana to Albert and Goldie (Collins) Mathias. She graduated from Rochester High School and from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana with a degree in home economics. On June 8, 1947 she married Charles Alvin Grove at the Burton Methodist Church near Rochester. The couple began their life farming and raising a family in the South English area, moving to Palo Alto County and then settling on the farm in Appanoose County, Iowa.

June passionately loved her family and was very active in her community. She was a partner in farming, pastor’s wife, teacher having taught at South English, English Valley’s, Mallard, Moulton-Udell and Centerville. She served as the Extension Home Economist for Keokuk County, she wrote the pageant for the celebration of 50 years of Capt. Miller Agriculture Clubs in Keokuk County, and she served as a 4-H leader and judge.

She was a member of the Church of the Brethren and served the Church of the Northern Plains district as a district moderator. June enjoyed many actives among them were creating worship centers for churches, collecting vintage valentines, postcards, lamps and potato mashers and shared her collections by giving historical programs to local organizations. She was a member of the North English Red Hats and enjoyed the English Valley History Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles on January 23, 2016, brother Robert Mathias, Muriel Billman and one grandson-in-law Usen Edittu

She is survived by children Christine (Jerry) Tobias of Conrad, IA, David (Glenda) Grove of Unionville, IA, Thomas Grove of South English, IA, Yolanda (David) Butler of Eldora, IA,  Rosalea (Tim) Cox of Cushing OK, 13 grandchildren Katie (Peter) Kohl, Matthew (Lexi) Tobias, Mark (Samantha) Tobias, Robby (Lexi) Tobias, Eric Grove, Adam Grove, Daniel (Alisa) Butler, Rachel Edittu, Quinton (Grace) Butler, Kira Cox, TJ (Lindsey) Cox, Tabitha (Justin) DaMetz, Celena (Ryan Sullivan) Cox,16 Great-grandchildren Blessing Marie Iniabasi Edittu, Abigail and Ellie Butler, Alexander and Sylvia Butler, Grace, Gabriel, Barrett Tobias and Baylor Whitmore, Lily and Maecie Kohl, Emily and Heather Carroll and Conner Tobias, Julian and Evelyn  DaMetz, a brother Joe Mathias of Kokomo, Indiana and many loved neices, nephews and extended family.