Donald D. Grooms

Born in Ottumwa, IA on April 13, 1931
Departed on December 30, 2008. Resided in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Memorial

Donald D. Grooms, 77, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Tuesday the 30th of December 2008 as a result of an auto accident in which he was a passenger in Alabama. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at First Assembly of God Church, 3233 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, by Rev. Rick Gail and Rev. Kenneth Groen of Des Moines, IA. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, for donations to be made to First Assembly of God. Arrangements by Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Lois, of 56 years and his daughter Anne Deguc, (spouse Christopher) and their children Anthony, Staff Sergeant Cassandra Deguc, Jamison (spouse Kasie), and Samantha of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, daughter-in-law Jenny Grooms and her children Andrew and Amanda (spouse Jonathan), Trussville, AL, a sister Nadine G. Stufflebeam (spouse Robert), Overland Park, KS, a brother Tom Grooms (spouse Zilpha), East Moline, IL, his sister-in-law, Charlotte Johnson, Riverside, CA, his special poodle, Jazzie; several nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones. His son, Dr. James D. Grooms, and his parents, Spurgeon and Dorothy Grooms, preceded him in death.

Don was born on the 13th of April 1931, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Don attended public schools in Ottumwa, graduating from Ottumwa High School in 1948. Don served in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict aboard the USS Shields in the 7th Fleet. Don married Lois Harness in 1952 while serving in the Navy.

Following his military service Don attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where he lettered in golf, graduating in 1959 Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. degree in Business Administration.

Don lived in Ottumwa, working for Grooms’ Brothers construction company until 1969, when he moved to Cedar Rapids and began work for Life Investors Insurance Company. Later Don formed Grooms Associates and was self-employed in Cedar Rapids.

Service