David H. Groll

David Harold Groll passed away peacefully, at the age of 87, on July 29, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born March 14, 1937, in Napoleon, Ohio, to Harold Carl and Iva Leone (Reed) Groll. His father was a renowned breeder and shower of pigeons, and his mother was an elementary school teacher. David’s mother taught kindergarten in their home in Holgate, Ohio, and his love for learning and teaching continued throughout his life. He took great pride in supporting the grandchildren throughout their school studies. 

To escape pigeon chores, at the age of 14, David went to work at the Meyer Market stocking shelves and delivering groceries. He graduated from Holgate High School in 1955 and obtained his teaching degree from Concordia College with an emphasis in Christian ministry. David dedicated every day of his life to God and the Lutheran Church until his last. 

After a brief time at St. Philips Church in Toledo, Ohio, David was called in 1962 to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oxnard, California, where he met his future wife, Arlene Stillings, in the church choir. They were married on March 2, 1968, in Oxnard, California.

In 1974, David accepted a calling to Geneseo, Illinois, to move closer to his folks. He moved his wife and two young children across the country to serve as Director of Christian Education at Concordia Lutheran Church. 

In November of 1982, the family moved to Harbor Beach, Michigan, where he served as parochial school Principal at Zion Lutheran School and taught 6th, 7th and 8th grades, including both of his children.

Nine years later, in the summer of 1991, they moved to Burt, Michigan, where he worked at his dream job selling and repairing clocks at the Frankenmuth Clock Company. He was thrilled to tackle a cuckoo clock rebuild that arrived at the shop in pieces. It is now one of the prized 102 clocks in his vast clock collection. He referred to himself as “clock doctor”, and every 15 minutes several clocks throughout the home chime, ding, dong and cuckoo. 

He retired in 2007, and David and Arlene moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. As empty nesters, they turned their attention to their grandchildren and dog, Lucky. David enjoyed the model airplane club at Comstock Elementary School with grandson, Mason, and as the grandchildren aged, they looked forward to weekly phone calls with grandpa and grandma. 

David enjoyed repairing clocks of all styles; tinkering in his workshop; playing canasta and pinochle; teaching bible class; shopping at estate sales; and lending a helping hand at church. He was a food enthusiast and shared a love for desserts with his mother and always had room for a piece (or two) of pie with ice cream. A favorite food memory was David’s famous Christmas peanut brittle that he shared with family and friends. The grandchildren will carry on his peanut brittle-making legacy.

David was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Arlene; son, Daniel (Vicki) Groll; daughter, Amye (Darren) Decker; six beloved grandchildren, Taylor (Brendan) Reh, Mason (Abigail) Groll, Emily Decker, Laken (Mason) House, Jonathan Decker, Ava Decker; brother, Douglas (Marlene) Groll; niece, Rebecca (Peter) Schiltz; and nephew, Jonathan (Mary) Groll. Cremains will be lovingly interred at Comstock Cemetery in Comstock, Michigan. A memorial and celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 2, at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Drive, in Portage, Michigan. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a service at noon and a luncheon in the church gym. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory can be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church or Sue’s Loving Care. 

We find comfort in knowing that David’s legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.

Please visit David’s personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com