Ada Lou Groseclose

9/9/1921 — 4/4/2014

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Ada Lou Groseclose ended her 92-year earthly journey Friday, April 4, 2014, enroute to eternal rest. Ada Lou regularly affirmed that "God is good." She was born to this good life Sept. 9, 1921, in Genesee, to Harry and Selma Comnick Sampson. Along with her sisters, she quickly learned the joy of living in the world of "critters" in the canyons, surrounded by family.

Ada Lou enjoyed both learning and teaching. She went to school at Arrow Junction, later becoming class valedictorian at Lapwai High in 1939. Ada Lou then enrolled at Lewiston State Normal School (now Lewis-Clark State College) in teacher preparation. That led to a teaching assignment at Meier School at rural Peck near Melrose, and as a second-grade teacher in the Genesee district.

Ada Lou married Virgil Groseclose Dec. 24, 1942, living with him in Lewiston for a short time after his service in World War II, before moving to Beardy Gulch near Spalding. In town, she worked at the Potlatch Forests Inc. box factory and at American Bank and Trust at Ninth and Main streets in Lewiston. The relocation to "the canyon" - where she resided for more than six decades until moving to assisted living at Pleasant Valley in Lewiston this past November - gave her a chance to cultivate her gardens and flowers, especially red roses and red geraniums. There, too, she built lasting relationships with the "critters" in her life, both domesticated and wild. Ada Lou also enjoyed needlework and shared her talents in the kitchen with family and friends, including making wedding cakes for family and supplying numerous treats for her son's classmates and teammates.

Ada Lou and Virgil enjoyed leaving "the canyon" to travel after his retirement from the sawmill. They were longtime members and leaders at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lewiston, where she was confirmed in 1935. There she taught Sunday school for many years.

Ada Lou is survived by her son, the Rev. Craig Groseclose and his wife Loralee Ohrtman of Kendrick; sister Norma (Sammy) Clausen of Lewiston; sisters-in-law Marjorie (Peggy) Wunderlich of Lewiston, Diann Groseclose of Lewiston, and Bonnie Morgan of Yakima; and brother-in-law Clarence Heimgartner of Lewiston; as well as by a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Virgil, her husband of 56 years; infant daughter Diane Lou; and sisters Rachel Wilsey and Erma Heimgartner.

The family is grateful for the care provided by Dr. Kumar and Dr. Garcia; Joy, Casey, Rockey, Donna and the staff at Pleasant Valley; St. Joseph's Hospice; and to the ANS caregivers. Thank you to Kathy Owen for her love and the guardianship of Ada Lou's distinguishing hair style. A special thanks to her sister Sammy for daily calls and to Ada Lou's niece Barbara Flores and husband Bill, whose efforts made it possible for her to stay in her beloved canyon home for an extended number of years during Craig's call in Oklahoma. Thanks also to Matt Wing for providing the lawn care in recent years.

A memorial service for Ada Lou will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church. In honor of her love for animals, the family suggests memorials to the Lewis-Clark Animal Shelter, 6 Shelter Road, Lewiston.

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