Funeral services for Peter J. Groeneweg, age 82, formerly of Austin, will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Elder Art Hiebert will officiate. Interment will be in the Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Peter died Monday, Sept. 12, 2005, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center.

Peter Johannes Groeneweg was born Jan. 8, 1923, to Arrie and Pietje (DenArnd) Groeneweg and the first male to be born in Hollandale. He moved to Holland in 1930 and then to France in 1936. Peter was a farmer and also served in the French Resistance from 1943 to 1944 during World War II. In 1947, he returned to Hollandale and farmed in the Hollandale and Austin area until his retirement. On Dec. 2, 1952, Peter was united in marriage to Bertha Tolsma in Hollandale.

He was a member of the Maplewood Academy Board and an Elder at the Seventh-day Adventist Church and, unofficially, he spent time checking on many of his church members. Peter was known for his garden cabbage and cauliflower, which he sold at the Farmer’s Market. In 2001, he became a resident of Good Samaritan Center where he was a member of the Resident Council, a participant in all of the religious activities, and ministered to many of the other residents. Peter enjoyed playing chess daily. His children and grandchildren were especially important to him and he enjoyed being involved in all of their activities. Peter was always willing to help anyone in a time of need.

Survivors include his daughters: Patricia and her husband Gilman Peterson, Debra Ihrig and Greg Haugland, and Rebecca and her husband Mark Stegen; sons: Arvin and his wife Michelle Groeneweg, and Gerald and his wife Gayla Groeneweg; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Joe and his wife Dorothy Groeneweg; sisters: Lena and her husband Art Goemaat, Esther Morrison, and Nellie Wynia; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bertha; and an infant sister.