June Gropper

June Gropper

December 26, 1936 – April 06, 2011
Grinnell, Iowa

Memorial Service: 4 p.m., Saturday April 09, 2011 at Carman Center of the Mayflower Community in Grinnell
Visitation: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday afternoon April 09, 2011 at Carman Center
June Meredith Gropper was born in Spencer, Iowa, the daughter of Max Hilles Meredith and Marion Evangeline Malott Meredith on December 26, 1936. June’s father died when she was two years old, so she and her mother moved near Brooklyn and they lived with her aunt and uncle. There June attended school in Brooklyn and graduated in 1954. She was united in marriage to Earl W. Gropper on February 13, 1960 in Kirksville, Missouri. They had four children, Jeff, Michelle, Stacey and Max William.

June’s mother was from Canada so her family made several trips back there as she was growing up, including to Manitoulin Island around Lake Huron to visit her uncles. She and Earl had a grain and livestock farm. They both were very involved in helping their children. June and Earl got them started in 4-H and she helped her children with their projects including teaching them the raising and showing of their calves, cooking, photography, furniture refinishing projects and so much more. June was very involved in many organizations. She was the first secretary of the Iowa Chianina Association. She was President of the Poweshiek County Cowbelle’s Association and was also involved in several other breed organizations at the state level. She was a member of the Malcom Presbyterian Church, Grinnell Garden Club, Malcom Worth While Club, and the Builder’s Club. She enjoyed drawing and painting pictures, sewing, collecting antiques, refinishing furniture, gardening and canning, flower gardening, playing cards, and dancing.

June is survived by her three children; Jeff (Mary) Gropper of Chelsea; her daughters, Michelle (Dennis) Reitzler of Grinnell and Stacey (Jeff) Storms of Trivoli, Illinois; eight grandchildren; Tony (Hannah) Gropper of Chelsea; Zachary Stevenson of Moses Lake, Washington, Joshua (Darcy) Gropper of Brooklyn; Jaimee Stevenson of Grinnell; Colby Stevenson of Grinnell; Ashley Reitzler of Victor; Taylor Storms of Carbondale, Illinois and Jarrod Storms, Trivoli, Illinois.

She is preceded in death by her husband; her infant son, Max William Gropper; and her brother, Robert Dean Meredith.

Source: Smith Funeral Home