Jay Norton Degroot

Jay Norton DeGroot, 89, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Monday, November 30, 2020, at Wellsville Retirement Community. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 5, 2020, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Interment Peoria Cemetery, Ottawa, with military honors by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Jay was born February 3, 1931, in Parkersburg, Iowa. He graduated from Parkersburg High School with the class of 1949 and continued his education at the University of Iowa graduating with a Bachelor of Science in General Studies. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 as a Corporal in Thule Greenland in the 428th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery. In 1967, Jay moved to Overland Park, Kansas and in 1983 to Ottawa. Jay was united in marriage to Ruth Elinor Schwietert June 23, 1956, at McGregor, Iowa. They were happily married for 64 years and had two children, Shirley and John. Jay was employed with AT&T for 30 years as an engineer associate from 1956 until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the Knox United Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, and Communication Workers of America. Jay was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed farming, antique tractors, the tractor shows and was an aircraft enthusiast. Above all, Jay loved spending time with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Knock; and was raised by his grandmother, Julia DeGroot who also precedes in death. Survivors include his wife Ruth of the home; two children, Shirley DeGroot and husband Richard McCarthy of Moody, Texas, and John DeGroot of White City, Kansas; and many cousins and extended family. The family suggests memorial contributions to Knox United Presbyterian Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.