Louis 'Louie' M. Groves, 86

“We are staying in Kellogg just long enough for me to earn enough money to return to Omaha.” These memorable words were spoken by Louis (Louie) M. Groves in January 1960 upon his discharge after four years in the U.S. Army. Being born in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 8, 1939, to Walter and Laura (Japp) Groves, he grew up living, playing and hunting in the flatlands, fishing in dirty rivers and breathing the stockyard's scents. Living in these mountains was not appealing. Obtaining work at Bunker Hill, his return to Omaha came faster than expected with Bunker Hill going on strike, and to Omaha, he returned with his wife, Jo Ann (Weholt), who he met and married while stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, along with their two oldest children. After seven months of Nebraska living, he could not wait to return to his family in Wardner, Idaho, when the strike ended and where he remained living until his passing Feb. 14, 2025. 

Wanting to better himself, Louie obtained his GED and then entered the Bunker Hill Electrician Apprenticeship program, becoming a Journeyman electrician, which also sent him to assist during the Sunshine Fire. He started laying carpets and linoleum floors for Furniture Exchange, which would benefit him greatly in the future, as one day, his mother-in-law, Ann Weholt, asked if he’d help her enlarge her utility room. He agreed to do so, even though he did not know a hammer from a crowbar. After a few lessons learning how to read a tape measure and use a hand saw, Louie realized he loved carpentry and started working at the trade on off hours, eventually leaving the mine in 1972. He worked at Western Auto for two years while continuing carpentering and eventually forming Groves Contracting in 1974. Finally, after three attempts, he retired in December of 2010. 

Although the building was not only his employment but also his hobby, he was active in community activities, including being a member of the Wardner Industrial Union while employed at Bunker Hill, coaching and umpiring Little League for many years while his three sons played and serving many years on the Central Shoshone Water District Board. He enjoyed his years serving Wardner the most, which included being a police officer, several terms as councilman, and most of all, plowing in the winter and doing city maintenance work. He walked many miles hunting the mountains of Shoshone County, fishing the streams or camping for 60-plus years at his beloved Mirror Lake in Sandpoint. Many neighbor kids would often be included in the hunting, fishing and camping trips. Any call to go to a casino was never turned down, and each summer, you’d find him planting his spuds and corn, which he prided himself in growing. 

Louie is survived by his widow, Jo Ann Groves, of the family home in Wardner; three sons, Michael (Michele) Groves of Rose Lake, Idaho, Danny (Melinda) Groves of Wardner; and David (Laisa) Groves of Kennewick, Wash.; and daughter, Brenda (Skip) Adams of Spokane Valley, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, Jeremy Groves, Jennifer Groves Reeves, Dameon Groves, Brandie Binfield, Erica Binfield Mitchem, Nicole Adams, Karissa Adams Kramer, Bridget Adams Eickmeier, Tyler Groves, Colby Groves, and Savanah Heinz; 23 great-grandchildren, Tanner and Isabel Groves, Kendall and Ella Mitchem, Mckenizie, Alaina, and Clara Kramer, Madisyn, Riley, and Alex Groves, Jaelyn, Josslyn, Jakelyn, and Carli Reeves, Eloise and Cora Eickmeier, Brody and Peyton Miskovsy, Maidson Bazemore, Rylan and Tayln Wilder, and Charley and Ryker Heimerman; and a sister, Lucille. Louis is also survived by several nieces and nephews. 

Preceding him in death are his parents, two sisters, two brothers, granddaughter Melinda Louise Groves and grandson Darin Groves. 

Graveside services with military honors will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 11 a.m., at the niche wall at Greenwood Cemetery, Kellogg. Afterward, family and friends are invited to gather at the Inland Lounge, 213 McKinley Ave., Kellogg, to visit, share “Louie” stores and enjoy lunch together. 

Memorials may be made to the Community Charity Fund at Kellogg Pet Medical Center, 304 E. Cameron Ave., Kellogg, ID 83837, or to an organization of one’s choice. 

Memories of Louie and messages of condolence may be shared with his family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com. Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting the Groves family with arrangements.