Galen Grote, age 84 of Wall Lake, IA, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home. Galen Lee Grote was born on August 6, 1937 to parents Roy and Marie (Buchholz) in Storm Lake, IA. Galen was baptized in the Zion Lutheran Church in Storm Lake on August 22, 1937. He was also confirmed there on March 21, 1951. He grew up with his family in the Storm Lake, IA area. He graduated from Truesdale High School as the class valedictorian in 1955. Galen enrolled in Valparaiso University, IN, in September of 1955. He received a BA in business and accounting in May of 1959, and his Juris Doctor Law Degree in 1961. He enjoyed his college experience participating in varsity baseball and receiving a freshman letter as a catcher. He also lettered his junior and senior years. During his junior year, the team came within one victory of reaching the College World Series at Omaha, NE.
Galen passed the Iowa Bar Exam in June of 1961, practiced general law, and even served a short stint as Assistant County Attorney in Benton County. In August of 1978, he changed careers to the vehicle leasing business. In 1989, he began an independent insurance adjusting business with a partner from Fort Dodge. The business expanded to locations across the north half of Iowa including Dubuque, Waterloo, Denison, Storm Lake, Spencer, and Sioux City. Galen was predominately the liability claims investigator/adjustor. He really enjoyed this area of work. In July of 2004, he sold out his partnership but remained in the business on a part-time basis. Later he operated a tax business in Manson, IA, and was a corporate business consultant. He was a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church and an active member of Kiwanis.
On June 8, 1958, Galen married Carole (Weideman). This union was blessed with three children: Greg, Debra, and Lynn. They later divorced. On June 3, 1988, Galen married Sheila (Freier), and with this union, her son Mark became a part of the family.
In his spare time, Galen enjoyed golf, reading and was an avid sports fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. He and Sheila enjoyed travel as well. Most of all Galen enjoyed spending time with his family including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 34 years, Sheila of Wall Lake, IA; children: Greg (Beverly) Grote of Jefferson City, MO, Deb Aswegan of Hardy, IA, Lynn (Scott) White of Lohrville, IA, step-son: Mark (Trish) Freier of Lake View, IA; grandchildren: Geremy (Margaret) Grote of Liberty, MO, Ashley (Kurtis) Shreeves of Modale, IA, Matthew Fowler of Hardy, IA, and Jerry (Jessica) Skjordal of Indianola, IA; step-grandchildren: Mike Freier of Wall Lake, IA, Jeff Freier of Schleswig, IA, and Shawn Freier of Lake View, IA; great-grandchildren: Genevieve and Melody Grote of Liberty, MO, Andrew, and Nora Collins and Jacob Shreeves of Modale, IA, Isaac Fowler of Humboldt, IA, Gage Fowler of Algona, IA, and Hunter Skjordal of Indianola, IA; brothers: Gerald (Lois) Grote and Gary(Mona) Grote.
Galen was preceded in death by his parents: Roy and Marie Grote; his brother Garlan Grote, and infant son, Craig Grote.
