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
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Date posted on this site: 11/02/2023
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