Richard ""Dick"" Harrison Grupp

Richard (Dick) Harrison Grupp, 98, of Wheat Ridge, CO passed away May 11, 2020 at Mountain Vista Living Center.

He was born in Aurora, Oregon on December 31, 1921. He was the son of Flossie (Robbins) and Joe Grupp.

The family moved to Noti, Oregon where Dick helped them farm and ranch. He also worked with his Grandpa Robbins in the logging business. The family went back many summers, living in a tent house in the woods to help his grandpa with the logging operations after his move to Denver.

With World War II coming, Dick joined the Army in August of 1940. He served with the Asiatic Pacific Group stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. At the end of the war, he was sent to Cheyenne, WY for training as a meat cutter. On a trip to Denver CO for training , he met his future wife of 62 years, Frances Mary Gerze. They were married September 11, 1944. They lived in Cheyenne until his discharge from the Army, in August of 1945.

They then moved to Denver (Globeville) where Dick worked in the meat packing plants for the next 35 years. He then worked as a custodian at the Jefferson County Public Schools until his retirement.

Dick loved his family very much. He was willing to work very difficult jobs to take care of them. In his leisure time he loved to be outside. He really enjoyed family visits, fishing, hunting, vegetable and flower gardening, and cooking. Well into his 90's it was common to find stacks and stacks of his homemade pizzelles in his kitchen at Christmas, or to find him working on his prized Hibiscus flower in the summer. He also loved watching the Bronco football games, and old western movies. Fiercely independent he enjoyed these things and many others at home until he moved into Mountain Vista at the age of 96.

He is survived by his four children, Frances (Jim) Bingham, Richard (Chris) Grupp, Robert (Bethany) Grupp, and Georgia (Dean) Teter; nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is and will be missed forever.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Frances; his sister, Pauline Smith, and her husband Clarence.

There will be a Visitation for Richard on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from 1pm to 4pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 W. 80th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003 (Please note, due to Covid restrictions, we are limited to 50 people total within our facility. We ask that you please wait in your cars until guests leave and you can then enter. Masks are required.) A Celebration of Life will be held on June 5, 2020 at 1pm but will also be limited to 50 people of the family’s choosing. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery but will also be limited to 30 people of the family’s choosing.

Donations may be made in Richard’s name to Food Bank of the Rockies, 10700 East 45th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80239.

Please share memories of Richard and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.

Visitation: June 4, 2020 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - Northwest/Arvada
7577 W. 80th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80003

Celebration of Life: June 5, 2020 1:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - Northwest/Arvada
7577 W. 80th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80003

Graveside Service: June 5, 2020 2:30 pm

Mount Olivet Cemetery
12801 W. 44th Ave.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033