More detail on this person: Fred Thomas Grotenhuis, life-long resident of Harmony New Jersey and
member of Calvary Community Church, passed away in his second home in Barranca, Costa Rica, on
March 9, 2015, with his wife Giulia and friends at his side. Born May 30, 1944 to the late Ruth and
Lewis Grotenhuis, Fred graduated from Belvidere high school in 1962, volunteered for the U.S. army
in 1966, served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Upon his return from military service, Fred had two daughters with his first wife and grew his
father's Book & Supply House into Harmony Press. The qualities that so many people loved and
admired in Fred were based in his strong love of Jesus Christ. Fred was an avid aviator whose other
interests included playing games, hunting, sailing and skiing. Fred is survived by his wife, Giulia
Iannitelli Grotenhuis, daughters Sarah Grotenhuis and Genevieve Yates, son-in-law, Timothy Yates,
grandchildren Silas and Sadie Yates, brothers John Grotenhuis, Dave Grotenhuis and wife Mary Ellen,
Steve Grotenhuis and wife Mary Jane, sisters Joan and husband Ralph English, Judy and husband
Efrain Cabrera, Barbra and husband Bear O'Brien, and 16 nieces and nephews. A visitation will be
held at Calvary Community Church, 4 Old Church Rd. Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, on Friday, March 20 from
4-8PM. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Calvary Community Church at 11AM
with reception to follow. Internment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In
lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Middle East Reform Fellowship. Please make checks
payable to John Grotenhuis, designate check for Eritrea, and mail to Judy Cabrera, 26900 South West,
187th Ave., Homestead FL, 33031.
Published in The Express Times from Mar. 13 to Mar. 14, 2015
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association