Timothy Groen

Timothy Groen, 51, former resident of Holland, Michigan, passed away in Alexandria, VA on February 20, 2023.

Tim was born in St. Petersburg, FL on March 27. 1971, and welcomed into the home of his parents Robert and Leslie Groen with great joy and happiness. Tim spent his early years in Largo, FL before moving with his parents and younger sister, Ellen, to Jenison, Michigan in 1979. In 1984, Tim’s family made one last move to Holland, Michigan, where both parents had previously lived.

Tim graduated with honors from Holland High School in 1989 and two months later, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Corporal Groen served with distinction as a military police officer in both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Navy Unit commendation medal for his war time service.

Tim was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1993 and enrolled in the University of Michigan, receiving a BA in Political Science and Sociology in 1998.

Tim moved to Washington DC after graduation, to pursue an MA in International Political Theory & Comparative Politics at American University, while also working as a research intern at the Organization of American States.

Upon completion of his graduate program, Tim began his civilian career with the US Government. He started at the Department of the Navy as a Treaty Analyst, before moving over to the State Department’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. He concluded his government tenure at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Throughout his career, Tim also enjoyed working as a waiter and bartender at several restaurants in both Michigan and Washington DC.

After leaving the government, Tim worked at the Lego Store in Arlington. His love for Lego creations was exhibited in the many Lego creations that were displayed in his apartment.

Tim enjoyed spending his early years with his family, camping, and attending family gatherings for birthdays and holidays, where he would trade baseball cards and tell everyone about his beloved Baltimore Orioles. Even though Tim spent his early years in Florida and Michigan, he still loved the Orioles and could recite every player’s stat’s without looking at the back of a card.

Tim loved music, particularly U2 and Peter Gabriel, watching baseball games of his favorite Baltimore Orioles, and the Cape League games in the summer. He had a great love for animals, particularly dogs.

He was kind to everyone he met and was grateful for the opportunity to provide for his family during the more difficult times of his and their lives.

Tim was preceded in death by his mother and father, Leslie and Bob Groen, his uncle, Dave Nealssohn, his aunts Sandra Roelofs, and Janet Bosch, and his uncle and aunt, Richard and Betty Kruithof. Tim is survived by his sister, Ellen Groen and her three sons, Brendon, Anthony, and Dominique, his aunts and uncles, Keith and Diane Bosch, Marcia and Stewart Washburn, Alan and Jayne Bosch, Kathy Linden, Mark and Genny Bosch, Karen Nealssohn, and Floyd Roelofs, great aunt Carol Nash, along with many cousins. His friends are limitless, and will carry his memory, forever.

A graveside service with military honors will be 11:00 am, Friday, June 2, 2023 at Pilgrim Home Cemetery, 370 E. 16th Street, Holland, MI 49423. Immediately following the service everyone is welcome to Dykstra Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel, 188 W. 32nd St., Holland, MI 49423 for a gathering with a lite lunch from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.