“I probably already told you this story, but I am going to tell it to you again.
In service to country
Thank you for your service
Donald served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Life story
Donald Grovert, 97, of Newhall, Iowa, passed from his earthly life to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 15, 2020. Private funeral services will be held Nov. 19, 2020, at St. John Lutheran Church, Newhall. The Rev. Steven Rempfer will officiate. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, rural Newhall. Military graveside services will be conducted by John Ward McGranahan American Legion Post 167 of Newhall and Iowa Military Funeral Honors.
Donald Charles Grovert was born to William and Elfriede (Werning) Grovert in his parent's home in Newhall, Iowa, on May 30, 1923, Memorial Day, or as called back then, Decoration Day. Don was baptized June 24, 1923, by the Rev. Henry Steger and confirmed March 21, 1937, by the Rev. Otto Nieting at Concordia Lutheran Church, Newhall.
In 1940, Don graduated from Newhall High School. His class totaled 21 students and he was the final classmate to pass away. Don attended Coe College and enlisted in the Army Reserves. In 1943, Don was called to active duty and was transferred to Ohio State University, where he completed the Army Officer Specialized Training Program. Don was then sent overseas and was stationed in Holland, England, Germany and France. He was a proud member of the United States Army during World War II. Because of his mechanical and driving skills, he was assigned to drive in the convoy of the Red Ball Express, where he delivered supplies to the front line in Germany. Don also was part of the anti-tank division wherein his expertise included disarming mines and booby traps. Don was the recipient of the distinguished French Croix de Guerre and three Bronze Battle Stars. He was finally discharged in June 1946. However, he remained active with the Reserves for many years and thereafter became a captain. Upon Don's return home, he completed his degree in commerce and finance at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Taking over the family business of Grovert Chevrolet became Don's lifelong career for the next 50 years until his son, Bill, became the fourth generation dealer. Even then, Don continued being a constant presence at the dealership for years to come.
During Don's Coe College days, he met his wife, Joan. They were married Nov. 9, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. Their marriage was made in heaven and cherished on earth for 72 years.
Don was a proud member of the American Legion, marching alongside fellow veterans for over 75 years. For many years, he held the position of Sergeant of Arms and Commander. He was a volunteer firefighter, local draft board member, town council member, commercial club member and an Army Ozark Association member and president. Since birth, he was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, formerly known as Concordia Lutheran Church. Don was one of Benton County's longest living residents, and also one of the few still-living veterans of World War II. You might have referred to him as a living, walking and talking history book with a plethora of knowledge beyond belief. If anyone wanted to know something from long ago, Don Grovert was the go-to person.
Grateful for having the joy of sharing Don's life are his children, Sue Much of Newhall, William (Susan) Grovert of Cedar Rapids and Patricia (Mike) Creech of Kemah, Texas; his brother, Dale Grovert of Winter Springs, Fla.; his grandchildren, Nicole Langerman, Melissa Much, Jason Grovert, Ashley Kasarjian and Christopher Creech; stepgrandchildren, Nicole Clausen, Helga Dammen and Stephanie Dammen-Morrell; along with 10 great-grandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
Don was welcomed into his Savior's loving arms along with those who predeceased him: his parents; wife, Joan; sister, Lola; and son-in-law, Bill Much.
Don loved his church and his hometown of Newhall. He will be remembered by his family as an awesome husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. He instilled many valuable attributes to the people who knew him and his sense of humor was appreciated by all.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests if memorials are given, that they be directed to St. John Lutheran Church, Newhall American Legion and Newhall First Responders.
Grovert Motor Company of Newhall was part of the Grovert family for four generations from 1910 until 2017. Charles Grovert and William H. Grovert started the dealership in 1910. The original makes of vehicles sold by Grovert Motor Company were Dodge, Studebaker, Cadillac and Ford. From 1926 through 2017, Grovert Motor Company sold exclusively Chevrolet. Donald Grovert became the dealer in 1947 after he returned home from WWII in Germany. William M. Grovert was the dealer from 2000 until 2017, when the dealership was sold to Van Horn Automotive from Plymouth, Wisconsin. Grovert Motor Company was an integral part of the Newhall community for over 107 years.
December 7, 1941 was Pearl Harbor
Don was at Coe College at that time.
An ROTC instructor (Army officer) told Don to enlist in the Enlisted Reserve Corp, then Don would get into advanced ROTC
Approx. December 1, 1942 Don enlisted
April 3, 1943, Don was assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky
Milt Krumm (Lola’s husband) was also at Fort Knox, Kentucky
Don requested that he go to Fort Knox because he was familiar with mechanics and driving.
Don was at Fort Knox from April through August, 1943
Sept 1943, Don started at Ohio State in ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program)
Don went to engineering school so he could use his education to be in the Army of Occupation, for rehabilitation of damage done by war. The Army requested and needed more soldiers and the draft boards were exhausted with supply. The Army decided to use ASTP candidates who were under the age of 22 and have a score of intelligence of 115 or better (5 points higher than the 110 basic service requirement.)
Don got assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division and was assigned to anti-tank and mine and booby trap platform.
Army 102nd Infantry Division (Ozark)
405th Anti-Tank Company
In the Fall of 1944, other US solders were breaking out of Normandy. Don drove supply trucks on the Red Ball Express from Normandy, by England, and take supplies to the front. He drove near Paris and took the trucks to supply dumps. He drove for about two weeks. Then the Army called him to duty and put him on the front between France and Germany. He was located
in the north at the bottom of Holland (located at Accun, Germany, then located and stayed at Wareukin, Holland. He was here for 2-3 weeks.)
Also in the fall of 1944, Don and friend William Kenny Harp were the best at disarming or removing mines. They would work on the mines after the mine sweepers located the mines.
During Christmas of 1944, Don was on the front lines between various rivers. They would hear German soldiers sing from across a river Christmas songs in German. After the Germans sang, the American solders would sing the same song in English. Dad said that both sides did little fighting over Christmas.
The German Tiger tanks were far superior to our tanks.
One evening when dad was on guard duty in Warikin, Germany, he and another American soldier (Baldwin from California) heard the clicking of boots as German soldiers were walking down some sidewalks. Dad slid between two buildings as the German solders walked by. The town was built like a T, and many homes had small acreages with barns with animals behind their homes.
February 23, 1945, dad and his other solders crossed the Roer River. The river had a large dam on one end. German solders opened up the dam to let water out into the river. Engineers shot a cable across the river and constructed a two foot walkway with a single rope on the right to hold on to. Approximately April of 1945, dad crossed the Rhine River at Wesel. At this time, the Germans didn't have much organized resistance. After he crossed the river, Don and his buddy, Bill Barnet, met up again. Bill Barnett was a mine locator. Then they went as far west to the Elbe River, but don't cross.
April 25, 1945, Don crossed the Rhine River and pushed towards the Elbe River. The Germans wanted to give up to the Americans rather than the Russians. The Russians were very harsh towards the German soldiers because of how ruthless the Germans were to the Russians when the Germans invaded Russia.
Any further, they would have been in Russia. They were about 35 miles from Berlin. The Russians wanted to take Berlin back, which was taken from them. The Germans were ruthless to the Russians, and the Russians showed no mercy for the Germans towards the end of the war.
Some American solders in Don's 405th Anti-Tank Company spoke German. This helped with interpreting German and English languages with the Germans. Frey and Weinstein (Jewish) and Finsinbacher spoke Germain fluently.
May 8 of 1945, the war was over in Europe. German solders wanted to surrender to American solders rather than Russians. The Germans feared retribution from the Russians.
Don received 3 Bronze Stars. One was for removing mines. He also received the French Croix De Guerre for being the most decorated solder in the company.
Don shipped back to the states in December 1945 from Holland. He got to leave based on a point system (decorations, months in service, if married / had children). Don was on a ship for around 14days. It took longer because of bad weather and rough seas. Don came back and was separated from Barnett and Harp. There were 1400 on the ship with about 1000 of the solders being black. Dad didn't know anyone else on the ship. All divisions were segregated, the blacks were in the rear as mostly service functions in the war---- driving trucks, cooks, etc. Don didn't see blacks on the front line.
In January of 1946, Don's ship landed in Mertle Beach, Virginia. Don was discharged at Camp Grant, Chicago, Illinois. Upon returning, Don remained in the Reserves. Don joined the Reserves in 1942. He didn't go to Korea because his reserve unit was not called. Dad also found out after World War II that his original Reserve unit in Iowa was never called to action during World War II. If dad didn't enlist, he probably would have never gone overseas during the war.
The town of Newhall commemorated Don’s 97th birthday and 75 years with the Newhall American Legion. Don was also a past volunteer member of the Newhall Fire Department. The Fire Department drove the fire trucks by Don’s home with sirens blaring. This was a very memorable day of community recognition for Don.
I Wish I Could Visit You In Heaven
American Legion award
American Legion award
