Caroll Degroote

Caroll DeGroote, 63, of Harcourt, Iowa, passed away at her home on Saturday, July 10, 2010, with her husband and children by her side, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the United Methodist Church in Dayton. Rev. Keith Putney and Rev. Julian Swanson will officiate. Cremation will follow the service and private family burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be Monday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Dayton. Carson - Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton is in charge of the arrangements.

Caroll Ann (Wuddel) DeGroote was born September 8, 1946, in Sheldon, Iowa, to Paul and Christina (Korthals) Wuddel. At the age of 12, she became the foster child of Merton and Hazel Billings of Lanyon, Iowa.

She graduated from Prairie Valley High School, Gowrie, in 1964, then attended Bernel Hairstyling College for 1 year.

On October 9, 1965, Caroll was married to Frank (Skip) DeGroote. To this union 3 children were born, Perry, Angela, and Gina. Caroll and Skip journeyed together through Skip's 15 years in the grocery business and 29 years in farming. Her grandchildren include Cody and Nicholas DeGroote, Dalton Stowers, Shayla and Payton Wadsworth, Trayton Hockemeier and Sebastian Kidd. Special people near and dear to her were Jackie, Michelle, Michael and Macey Pals, and Justin Alden. Like all Grandmas, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren. Watching them grow and watching their special activities and of course, mending their bumps and bruises. She made sure she was present at the hospital for the birth of every grandchild.

Caroll loved gardening, the outdoors and also became an avid reader. Reading hundreds of books and sharing her likes of them with her special friend Barbara Carlson. One of Caroll's greatest passions was being an EMT with the Dayton Rescue Squad for 21 years, which included working the annual Labor Day Rodeo.

Caroll was preceded in death by her parents and foster parents. Father and Mother-in-law Phil & Nina Fridolfson.

Surviving her are her husband Skip, son Perry, two daughters Angela (Tim) Wadsworth and Gina Kidd and all of her grandchildren. Her sister Donna (Dave) Sander, brothers Denny Wenndt and Larry Gardiner and many Aunts, Uncles, nieces & nephews. Brother-in-law Lyle (Ruth) Fridolfson and sister-in-law Karen Slawson.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.