Charlene Gail Groven

1948 - 2025

Charlene Gail Groven (Opkis)

December 2, 1948 - September 2, 2025

Charlene Gail Groven (Opkis), 76, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully at Cottage Grove Place, from renal failure, on the afternoon of September 2, 2025. Celebration of Life services will be held at 10 am, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at The Shueyville Church located at 1195 Steeple Lane, N.E., Shueyville, Iowa. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 pm, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre located at 2121 Bowling Street, S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, or from 9 to 10 am, at the church before the service. Burial will be at 2:30 pm, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa. All are welcome to attend.

Charlene, or Char as she preferred to be called in later years, was born at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa on December 2, 1948, to parents Charles Fredrick and Minnie Dora Alvina (Doescher) Opkis. She was the youngest of six children. Char grew up in Mason City and graduated from Mason City Community High School in 1966. In the early 1990's she attended Hamilton Business College for one year where she proudly made the Dean's List. In 2000 she moved to the Cedar Rapids area to be closer to her daughter Mindy.

After high school, she married William "Bill" Eldrick Groven, Sr. on January 14, 1967. Together they had two children, William "Bill" Eldrick Jr. and Mindy Gail. They later divorced in 1989.

Char worked at the I.O.O.F. Nursing Home in Mason City until she had a back injury in 1980. She enjoyed caring for the elderly and often said this was her favorite job. She also worked at Plastic Molders in Clear Lake, at We 3 Market in Belmond as a Produce Manager, Hy-Vee Deli in Mason City and Wal-Mart in Cedar Rapids. Char was a hard-working woman and had a smile that would light up the room. Everyone loved her.

She was a very talented person and a lover of all animals. She enjoyed playing bingo, doing puzzles, crafting and often dreamed of someday having a house with a craft room just for her. She painted beautiful ceramics and loved to crochet. She was always making an afghan for someone to enjoy.

Char didn't have the easiest life and had to overcome many things. She battled depression daily and around 2013, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. In 2015 she began dialysis for three days a week, doing this for almost 10 years. During this time, she also bravely made it through breast cancer. She moved into Cottage Grove Place in November 2024. A week before her passing, with the guidance of God, she made the brave decision to stop dialysis, her body was tired and she had had enough. She is now at peace and resting in the arms of our Lord.

Charlene is survived by her son, Bill Groven Jr. (Karen), daughter, Mindy Tearse (David); grandchildren, Alisha Ollar (John), Joshua Groven (Jenna), Levi Groven, Daniel Tearse; step-grandson, Peter Tearse; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Cecil, Edith, Margaret; and her brothers, Vernon and Alvin.

Memorials may be directed to her daughter Mindy Tearse.

Special thank you to the wonderful, caring staff at Cottage Grove Place. She could not have had a better place for her final months. Their love and support will never be forgotten.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.