Rev. Harvey Grote, 93, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Iowa City Hospice.

Harvey Grote was born Nov. 8, 1919, at Pequot Lakes, Minn., to August and Selma (Bauer) Grote. He married Cora Mae Clark on August 18, 1944, in Des Moines, Iowa. After serving 65 years with Harvey in the World War II days to the present, Cora Mae died on March 30, 2008.

Harvey attended schools in Faribault, Minn., where he graduated from high school in 1941. He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, from 1941 to 1942. He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1946. He was a radar repairman attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, serving in the European Theatre. Harvey graduated from Luther College in 1949, and from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1952. He was ordained a Lutheran pastor in First English Lutheran Church, Faribault, on May 25, 1952. Rev. Grote served as pastor of three congregations, Sverdrup, Tingvold and Aurdal in Underwood, Minn.; Immanuel in Whitewood, S.D.; Grace in Sturgis, S.D.; and Highland and East Highland in Brandt, S.D.

In Iowa, Rev. Grote served as pastor of Faith Lutheran in Burlington, and Zion Lutheran in Clinton. He also served Chancy Lutheran in Clinton and Ascension Lutheran in Goose Lake as a part-time pastor. Rev. Grote served as interim pastor in seven churches in Clinton County. He retired from the last interim pastorate in June 1994. For six years (1975-1981) he served as vice president and manager of the Clinton Branch of Midwest Federal Savings and Loan of Eastern Iowa.

Active in the Boy Scouts of America in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa, Harvey held a number of offices at the District level. He was one of the clergy who started the Jane Lamb Hospital Chaplainry Corps and he served as president. He was a member of the American Legion Post 677, Miles, Iowa, for over 40 years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8486, Clinton. He has been a member of Chancy Lutheran Church, Clinton, since 1985.

While in South Dakota, Rev. Grote was one of the founders of Outlaw Ranch Bible Camp of the ALC, now the ELCA. The camp is located near Custer, S.D. Rev. Grote served as manager of this camp for several years before they called a full-time camp manager. Rev. Grote served the South Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church as second vice president in 1962 to 1963.

Survivors include five daughters: Mrs. Richard (Julie) Filer Jr. of Midwest City, Okla.; Shari Grote of Minneapolis; Mary Coleman of Denver City, Tex.; Mrs. William (Martha GROTE ‘74) Matthews of Denver, Colo.; and Mrs. Rodney (Rebekah Jo) Lewis of Scottsdale, Ariz.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; a sister, Eleanor Braun of Hayward, Minn.; and a brother, Luvern Grote of Pleasanton, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and two brothers, HAROLD GROTE ’46, and MICHAEL SCHWEISTHAL ‘58.

Funeral services were held in Clinton, Iowa. Burial was March 10, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D. Friends and family gathered at Kinkade Funeral Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery. Casket bearers were be Dr. Jacob Coleman ‘01, Sgt. Zachary Cory, Devin Cory, and Rod Lewis. Honorary casket bearers are Scott, Ryan, Kevin, and Karen Sharp.

Memorials may be made to Chancy Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.kinkadefunerals.com.