Eleanore K. Gronewold

Eleanore Kathryn (Josvanger) Gronewold began life on earth on October 31, 1932 in Decorah, Iowa, the first daughter of George and Elva Josvanger.  She also had an older brother Harley.

Eleanore was raised on the farm and attended a one room schoolhouse in Decorah, Iowa.

Later she completed her nurses training in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and during this time was when the name Jozy came to be. Through friends she met Marven Gronewold, and they married in beautiful Decorah, Iowa on October 4, 1953.  After their honeymoon in Wisconsin Dells, the newlyweds returned home to Marv’s draft notice for the Army.  While stationed in Colorado Springs, Jozy became pregnant and almost gave birth early while taking a drive in the mountains! After Marv’s Army service, they moved back to Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Soon first daughter Sandra Kay was born in December 1955. Later, Jozy went back to work as an RN at the Fort Dodge hospital.

In the late 1950’s, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa where Marven started with Diamond Laboratories and Jozy worked at Lutheran Hospital.  In 1962, Marven took a business trip to Belgium, and 9 months later a second daughter named Tamela Joreen was born in June 1963.

In the summer of 1966, Marven was transferred to Mexico City and the family adjusted to living in an overpopulated city of millions and experienced new adventures like climbing pyramids, floating on rivers of flower gardens, touring castles and learning to shop and survive in Spanish. On a trip back to Iowa in 1968, Jozy was hospitalized with hepatitis contracted in Mexico.  The family decided to stay in Des Moines instead of returning to Mexico City as originally planned.

During the 1970s, Marven and Jozy were involved with the kids at church, developing teen centers and outside church activities.   To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, they saved enough money for a trip to Hawaii.  Traveling and exploring continued with a camping vacation throughout the West, a trip up and down the East Coast, and quick trips to Minneapolis and Denver to see the daughters. Jozy worked as an RN in Des Moines area hospitals in Oncology units and volunteered with the Make Today Count organization through Orville Kelly.  Make Today Count was a precursor to today’s Hospice programs throughout the nation.

In retirement, Marven and Jozy enjoyed their free time by joining the Des Moines Botanical Gardens, the Herb group, the Lily Society and moved to a hobby farm outside of Marshalltown. Jozy started painting pictures of her flower gardens. 

By the fall of 1999, Marv and Jozy moved to Denver to be closer to Sandi. During a trip to northwest Arkansas in 2001, they found a house in the hills of beautiful Bella Vista.  Precious Moments, Bluebird of Paradise, concerts, art festivals, and farmer’s markets were just some of their favorite memories from the Arkansas area.

Marv and Jozy made one more move in December 2005 to Yuma, AZ. By April 2006, Marven died peacefully at home with Jozy and the girls by his side. Jozy continued to live in Yuma and plant her gardens but always missed the rich black soil like she had in Iowa.

She died from heart failure while in hospice care.   We wanted to share her journey as you were a part of it, bringing laughter, tears and life lessons to our entire family. 

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