Lawrence J Degroot

Lawrence J DeGroot, Age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 12, 2022. Larry was born on September 13, 1930 to Lawrence and Alice (Callahan) DeGroot. He graduated from St. Patrick’s Grade School in Green Bay and then Central Catholic High School in 1948. One summer during high school Larry was swimming with some friends and spotted a pretty girl with red hair who had lost her swimming cap. He dove down to retrieve it. He dangled it on his finger and returned it to one very impressed Jeanne VanderZanden with a smile. From that day on, Jeanne was hooked. At least that’s how he told the story. He went on to graduate from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1952. He was certified as a professional engineer by the Wisconsin Board of Architects and Professional Engineers.

Larry married Jeanne at Saint Willebrord's Catholic Church in June of 1953. Shortly after the nuptials he served the US Navy in the Korean War. He specialized as a hardhat diver and scuba diver and trained in bomb disposal. Stateside, Larry and Jeanne moved between bases and started their family. After retiring from the Navy, they moved back to the Midwest and Larry worked for Charmin Paper Company as a plant engineer and later joined his friend Tony Marold as a partner in Reeke-Marold Mechanical Contractors. He retired from Reeke-Marold in 1992.

After retirement Larry and Jeanne spent countless hours working on and enjoying their “Tara North," a miner's home turned ski house, in Montreal, Wisconsin. They traveled extensively and spent part of their winters in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was a member of the Brown County Historical Society and in his retirement was proud to lead a project to mark Jean Nicolet’s landing site at Red Banks with a gazebo and beautiful green space. He continued his passion for the subject by giving lectures about Jean Nicolet in the Learning in Retirement program and many other venues throughout Brown County. He was so dedicated to the upkeep of Hazelwood, the historic house in Green Bay Astor Park area, Jeanne said he had a mistress named Hazel Wood.

Larry and Jeanne were longtime members of the Coterie Dance Club, Green Bay Square Dance Club and the Cotton Club.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Green Bay Knights of Columbus Council 617 and the Associated Master Plumbers of Green Bay. He held many leadership positions in the contracting associations throughout Green Bay and Wisconsin.

While Larry was a professional business owner, a dedicated volunteer and society member, and great friend to many, his happiest moments were with his family. Together they worked hard and played hard, and there was much laughter during both. There was so much joy to be had that additional holidays were added to the DeGroot family calendar as an excuse to gather. Christmas ski trips started early with Feliz Navidad on December 23rd. In the summer, the children headed up to Door County with Jeanne, the schoolteacher on break. Larry would come up for the weekend to celebrate the season with family and close friends. Larry’s grandchildren have reaped the fruit of Larry and Jeanne’s planting seeds of tradition. They have adored their grandfather for his family values and individual attention. They will miss him dearly, and he has left a permanent mark on their hearts.

Jeanne went on ahead in 2009 to no doubt remodel their little cabin in Paradise. And Larry met his "best friend" Pat LaViolette. They spent many years enjoying each other’s company, traveling and spending winter time in Arizona and Florida. He had a special love for Pat’s daughters Mary Shawn and Barbie and a sincere fondness for her grandchildren Emily and Andrew.

Larry was a man of strong moral character and gentle correction. He led by kind example and infrequent but serious advice. He was the real deal. He truly did act justly, he loved tenderly, and he walked humbly with his God. We know he is with family gone ahead and we will all gather again for a Larry’s Margarita in the Sky. Love you Dad and Grandpa.

The family has deep gratitude for the many practitioners who have cared for Larry this year. Doctor Jason Hoppe and the staff at Prevea have been lovely to our family. Special thanks to Amy Klimek for her house calls. Thank you to St Vincent Emergency Care, Rehab and OT, and all of the staff who attended to Larry’s….and the family’s needs. Our stay at Village at Eden Vista was brief but profoundly meaningful. We appreciate the staff tending to Larry and making us feel confident in his care. There is a special place in heaven for the staff at Heartland Hospice Care. You brought us peace and comfort during our most difficult hour. Special thanks to Amy, Brook and Traci B. Thank you to Sheila DeLuca, Bishop Bob Morneau and Father Tom Reynebeau for their blessings in Larry’s final days.

Those welcoming Larry into Paradise are his beloved wife Jeanne (VanderZanden), his parents Lawrence and Alice (Callahan) DeGroot, brother Ronald DeGroot, his brother-in-law Harold Raymaker, his daughter Elizabeth, and his grandchildren Melissa Heeg, and Martin, Mary and Robert DeGroot. He is greeted by many friends and extended family.

Larry is lovingly remembered by his four children: Laura (Earl) Lima, Julie (Don) Heeg, Paul (Terry) DeGroot and Daniel (Sarah) DeGroot. He will be missed by his grandchildren Lizzie Heeg, Lauren (Pat) Naureckas, Rebecca (George) Benakis, Matthew (Abigail) and Michael DeGroot, Jack, Teddy (Irene) and Joseph DeGroot. He’s further survived by his sister Joanne Raymaker, his brother Peter (Debbie) DeGroot, his sister-in-law Alice DeGroot and his special friend Pat LaViolette.
The family will receive guests on Thursday, July 21, for visitation from 2:00 until 3:45 PM at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive Green Bay, WI 54301. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 4:00 PM at Resurrection, Father Tom Reynebeau officiating.
To honor his memory, in lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to The Brown County Historical Society.