Jacob C. DeGroen

Jacob de Groen was born in Noordwijk Holland Sept 17, 1917 the first of 15 children. The family moved to Rotterdam Holland where he met and married Elisabeth Mutsers Jan 29, 1941 and was married for 66 years when Elisabeth passed away in 2007 The country he was born in, is a small flat country, below sea level, bordered by Belgium and Germany.

At the start of the World War II Holland was invaded and occupied by Germany.

The destruction of one of the greatest cities, Rotterdam, was an even greater shock to the people of Holland than the invasion itself. In May 1940, in less than five days, the independence of the Netherlands was destroyed. Rotterdam, which the Germans claimed was mistakenly bombed, lay in ruins. Jacob, and others in Holland, does not believe it was a mistake because the bombs kept coming. It was deliberate. No Dutchman who lived through the World War II can ever forget the sudden violence and the needless destruction of one of its greatest cities.

The occupation of Holland lasted five years. Food and clothing became scare and people became concerned about their families' well-being. Many turned to the black market. Thousands of Hollanders died from exposure and lack of food. Starvation was common. Jacob said curfew was at 6 p.m. but many went out anyway to steal coal or anything else of useful value from the Germans.

In 1944 he was arrested and put into a concentration camp. Four days later he escaped and went to my mother's brother's house and later to a farm to hide out. They never found him. He use to tell us when he escaped, there was a fork in the road, one direction would take you back and the other would take you out. Luckily, he made the right decision.

Our parents had 6 children, twins, Jerry and Bert, Adriana (Sjani) Tony, Ellie, and Cobi all born in Rotterdam. Bert, one of the twins died at eleven months.

The family was Catholic. The Catholic Church was an important part of our family's lives. In Holland the kids went to a Catholic school but in America we went to the public schools. In Holland, school started at age three and ended between the ages of twelve and fourteen. After completing school, you went to either a trade school or to work.

Jacob served in the Merchant Marines.

After the war was over the parents wanted to leave Holland. You are put on a 5 year waiting list and you needed a sponsor to make this move. My mother's aunt who was Mormon had stated that the church and her family would be their sponsor. So we studied the Mormon religion and became Mormons and in 1954 (9 years later), we moved to the United States, the "land of opportunity." A land where you can own your own car, house, and other material goods. Later, they did find out the meaning of time-payments. Jacob packed up his wife and five children--ranging in ages from 3 1/2 to 12 years and as much of our belongings as they could and went to the United States. Our father was the only one who could speak English, it was a great challenge.

In 1960 when Jerry wanted to join the Navy, we received our citizenship of the United States.

When we first got to Denver, my family couldn't wait to go to the mountains. But coming from flat lands, it was real scary. We would start up and go a little ways then turned around and came back. Then the following week we would try it again. We went a little further each time until finally we made it. We finally made it to Red Rocks and to Look Out Mountains.

Our dad did endure a lot over his life. At 92, he had outlived his parents, his wife Elizabeth, 9 of his brothers and sisters, three of his children, Bert, Jerry and Ellie and a grandson Jim Breslin.

He enjoyed camping and fishing, he liked to travel and he loved going to the health club every day. He also enjoyed being around his children, grandkids, great-grand kids, and great-great- grand kids. It made him feel proud.

He is survived by his children - Adriana (Sjani), Tony, Cobi; son-in-laws; Terry Breslin and Doug Chaney; 10 grandkids - Laurie, John, Michael, June, John, David, Jim, Julie, Paul, and Sheila; 24 great grandkids, 2 great-great grand kids, 3 brothers and 3 sisters.



A time of remembrance and sharing will be held at the Bullock Colonial Chapel on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.