John M. “Jack” De Groote, 77, of Hudson Lake, Ind., passed away Monday, Dec. 28, 2020.
Jack was born Nov. 29, 1943, to Andrew and Isabella (Riffel) DeGroote.
Jack was a truck driver, having worked for Federal Express for 15 years, retiring in 1988. He then went on to work for Eagle Global Logistics for many years. He was a member of St. John Kanty Catholic Church, where he served as an usher and helped with maintenance and many projects at the parish. Jack served his country in the United States Navy, was a member of the American Legion, and served on the Hudson Township Advisory Board for many years.
Jack gave a one-acre land parcel to the Indiana DNR for the new Hudson Lake public access. He chose to donate the land that recently became the Andrew L. DeGroote Public Access Site. “God gave us a reason to do it by blessing my family use of the lake over the years and this was our opportunity to give something back,” said the modest Hudson Lake man. In addition, it gave him the opportunity to honor his brother, Andrew, who died in a hunting accident in 1945, just two years after Jack was born. (https://www.southbendtribune.com/sports/outdoors/man-donates-hudson-lake-public-access-site-to-honor-his-brother-who-died-in-hunting/article_e79462dc-dbdb-5a5a-a393-734fab4cd2b7.html)
On March 13, 1965, Jack married Sharon M. Kwiecinski, who preceded him in death on Nov. 20, 2017. She preceded him in death.
Jack was also preceded in death by one grandson, Matthew Chance; brothers, Andrew and Robert DeGroote; and sister, Dolores DeGroote.
Jack leaves behind a daughter, Tammy (Tamara Marie) Christman and husband, Dan, of Mishawaka, Ind.; a son, Butch (John Michael) DeGroote and wife, Carrie, of La Porte; a daughter, Jaclyn Michele Cox; 12 surviving grandchildren, Randy Newman, Heather (Brandon) Holcomb, Alex Newman, Tiara DeGroote, Zach (Sara) Christman, Andrew Cox, Marcus Cox, Michael (Hope) DeGroote, Kennedie Bellegante, Ally DeGroote, Elexas Cox Camp, and Ashlyn Bellegante; great-grandchildren, Layla, Nevaeh, Emma, Liliana, Ava, Sandy, Jaxon, Alex, Lochlan, and Ellaina; and a sister, Joyce (Pierre) Terrault of Hudson Lake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. La Porte time Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, at St. John Kanty Catholic Church, Rolling Prairie, Ind. The Mass may be viewed live at http://www.stjohnkanty.com. Burial will follow at St. John Kanty Cemetery, Rolling Prairie. Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, La Porte, is handling arrangements.
All in attendance must wear a mask and social distance.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Kanty Parish, 7012 N CR-600 E, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.