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Leonard H.
Grollmes, 94, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, September 11, 2000,
at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was transferred
there from Country View Estates Care Home where he had been a resident
since July of 1998.
He was born July 17, 1906 on a farm southwest of Seneca the son
of Joseph T. and Frances Meyer Grollmes. He grew up there and attended
Sts. Peter and Paul School. After school he worked on farms in the
area. He worked for Blaugh's Café in Seneca as a cook for several
years. In 1928 he went to work for Nemaha County where he operated
a caterpillar for road construction.
On October 26, 1936, he married Mary Olberding
at Loveland, Colorado. They lived in Seneca. In 1943 he went to
work for Union Pacific in Laramie, Wyoming, as a fireman on the
4000 series of large locomotives. In the spring of 1946 they returned
to Seneca. Leonard and Howard Ford operated a hardware store in
Axtell, Kansas, for a year before he began work for Bauer Meade
Agnew International as a mechanic in Seneca. In 1949 they purchased
the Gilford Hotel in Seneca and operated it until 1952. He and his
wife, Mary, built the Linda Motel in Seneca and operated it until
1965. He worked for Love & Osterhaus construction as a carpenter
for several years before returning to operate the motel in 1968.
His wife, Mary, died May 14, 1969.
On April 12, 1975 he married Hazel Van
Verth Cook at Perry, KS. They lived in Seneca. She died September
8, 1985. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and St. Joseph's
Society at Seneca. Leonard was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting,
and training and caring for his hunting dogs.
Survivors are a daughter, Linda Loveall
of Maple Hill, Kansas, a son James Grollmes of Perry, Kansas, a
brother, Louis Grollmes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and five grandchildren.
Three brothers, Walter, Paul, Lawrence,
and a sister Celesta Gudenkauf preceded him in death.
A memorial mass will be offered Wednesday,
September 13, at 10:30 A.M. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
in Seneca. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions
may be given for St. Ann's Altar Society, the Kansas Association
for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or the donor's choice and sent
in care of the family.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge
of arrangements.
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