Douglas “Doug” Vincent, Grotheer, 78, of Weir, died at 10:20 p.m. Monday, December 12, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. Born April 19, 1944, at Anniston, Alabama, Doug was the son of Karl Krause and Lottie Elizabeth (Gragg) Grotheer. They preceded him in death. Doug was also preceded in death by a half-sister, Rebecca.
Doug attended Washington Elementary and graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1964. He later received his Master’s in Child Psychology from Kansas State Teacher College, now Pittsburg State University. While at college, Doug served in the ROTC program.
Doug and Janice Dierks were united in marriage in 1966. They were married for seventeen years. They then divorced. January 13, 1990, Doug was united marriage to Laura York Shank at Joplin, Mo. She survives at the family home.
Doug started his teaching/coaching career in Liberal, Mo. from 1964 to 1966. In 1966, he began teaching at Weir Elementary, where he taught, coached and drove a school bus until he retired in 2000. While teaching, Doug was also a farmer and taught summer classes at Pittsburg State University. After retirement from school, Doug could not sit still, so he began became a delivery driver for Air Gas; drove a semi for JCB Farms and later for S and T Trucking in McCune.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church; KNEA; and he loved to hunt and fish.
In addition to his wife, Laura of the home, Doug is survived by three sons, Vincent John “VJ” Grotheer (B.J.) of Pittsburg, Kurt Grotheer (Linda of rural McCune and Jacob Grotheer (Sylvia) of Weir; three step-daughters, Sarah Shank and Jessica Shank (Guido Ascanio) both of Weir, and Hannah Anderson (Sean) of Frontenac; a brother, Martin Grotheer, MD of Miami, Okla.; four sisters, Marlena Bolt and Phyllis Gaylor both of Weir, Jane Crane of Grand Lake, Okla. and Elaine Phelps (Ron) of Fort St. Lucie, Florida. Nine grandchildren, Briston Kapler, Lydia and Sadie Grotheer, Jayden Lyric Jarvis, Lucy, Nora and Greta Anderson, Langston and Dottie Kay Hardwick; nieces and nephews, Lydia, Patrick and Will; extended family; Derek Scholes (Autumn), Shelby Scholes (Dani), Sara Scholes and Brent Scholes also survive. A Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 17 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsburg. Pastor Theodore Cook will officiate. A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, January 13, 2023 at the Weir Civic Center. Interment will take place at a later date in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you plant a tree in Doug’s name. Online condolences may also be left at www.brennermortuary.com on his obituary page. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.