Wilbur "Bill" E. Groeneveld, 76, 1518 Westbury Drive, Celina, died at 3 a.m. March 7, 2008, at his home.

He was born July 29, 1931, in Montrose, S.D., to Ontje and Hilda Otten Groeneveld. On March 23, 1952, he married Darlene Hoefert, who survives.

Other survivors are a son, John (Renee), Maryland Heights, Mo.; three daughters, Cathy (Dan) Snider, Cindy (Kim) Gibbons and Sandy Monbeck, all of Celina; a brother, Marvin (Veronica), Hartford, S.D.; two sisters, Joanna Elder, of California, and Myrna Searl, of South Dakota; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Deceased are a brother and his wife, Arthur and Mavis; a sister and her husband, Daphene and Ray Steichen; and two brothers-in-law, James Elder and Robert Seal.

He was an agricultural engineer at the former New Idea plant in Coldwater for 31 years and retired in 1997 from the Gehle Co., West Bend, Wisc. He also was a pilot and flight instructor at Lakeview Airport, Montezuma. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Moose Lodge, both of Celina, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Services are 11 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Paul Baglien officiating. Burial is at North Grove Cemetery, Celina, at a later date.

Calling is 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina.

Contributions can be made to the church.

Condolences can be made at lhdfuneralhome.com.