Jenny Marie Groothuis
November 8, 1974 — June 30, 2014
Jenny Marie Groothuis was born November 8, 1974 in Hudson, WI, the daughter of David Vail and Mary Lou Vail-Brown. She grew up with her twin sisters in MN. Jenny graduated from the U of IA, where she was a Spanish major and member of Phi Beta Kappa, earning their highest honors. Jenny married Brad Groothuis on July 21, 1995. Together, they were proud to be raising 15 children; 8 adopted from her favorite continent, Africa. Jenny was a member of Maranatha Bible Church, Wind and Fire Ministries, River of Life Church, and the FLIGHT Homeschool Group.
Jenny enjoyed spending time with her husband, Brad, Zumba classes and dance parties with her kids, drinking coffee with friends, and power walks with her sister. Jenny was a gifted writer who used her words to encourage, inspire, and lift others up. She loved to read, bask in the sun, and invite friends, neighbors (and sometimes even strangers) over for a meal. Jenny had a way of making everyone she knew feel important and loved.
Survivors include her husband, Brad; children, Sebastian, Gabriel, Alicia, Solomon, Antonio, Princess, Marcelo, Dominic, Sofia, Adriana, Blessing, Zemira, Esther, Solana, and Ari; father, David Vail; mother, Mary Lou Vail-Brown (Jim Brown); and sisters, Christina (Dan) Hernandez, and Julie (Matthew) Collins.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Ariana Groothuis.
A memorial fund has been established in Jenny’s honor at: www.JennyGroothuis.com
Funeral services for Jenny Marie Groothuis will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2014 at River of Life Ministries: 3801 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Arrangements made by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.
Jenny enjoyed spending time with her husband, Brad, Zumba classes and dance parties with her kids, drinking coffee with friends, and power walks with her sister. Jenny was a gifted writer who used her words to encourage, inspire, and lift others up. She loved to read, bask in the sun, and invite friends, neighbors (and sometimes even strangers) over for a meal. Jenny had a way of making everyone she knew feel important and loved.
Survivors include her husband, Brad; children, Sebastian, Gabriel, Alicia, Solomon, Antonio, Princess, Marcelo, Dominic, Sofia, Adriana, Blessing, Zemira, Esther, Solana, and Ari; father, David Vail; mother, Mary Lou Vail-Brown (Jim Brown); and sisters, Christina (Dan) Hernandez, and Julie (Matthew) Collins.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Ariana Groothuis.
A memorial fund has been established in Jenny’s honor at: www.JennyGroothuis.com
Funeral services for Jenny Marie Groothuis will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2014 at River of Life Ministries: 3801 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Arrangements made by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.
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