As the sun set on March 3 Darryl Jake Groenenboom of Coalhurst, beloved husband of Yvonne Lynn Groenenboom, left this earth and breathed his first breath of heaven. His life of 56 years was cut short with sudden and tragic illness. Darryl was born in Lethbridge on November 2, 1965. He spent his childhood on the family farm raising pigs, cattle, and growing different crops. He then went on to Lethbridge College in 1987 to take his Agriculture Technology Diploma. 

 In 1988 he obtained his private pilot's license and subsequently went on to finish his commercial license as well as complete the Aviation Program at Mount Royal College. He started his aviation career with Sunwest Air Charters in 1990 and racked up many hours flying bank data to Northern Alberta towns. After the passing of his father in 1991 he returned to the family farm in the spring of 1992 to farm with his brother Joe. Many agricultural opportunities presented themselves and Groenenboom Farms was established and grown. Darryl loved participating with His Lord in the planting and growing of fields knowing that he would make plans and work with excellence but ultimately it was the Lord who gave the increase. 

 In December of 1989 he married Yvonne Toews, the love of his life and together they raised their family to love the gifts of their Creator; the land, the animals, nature, family, and friends. He leaves behind his children Spencer, Shelby (engaged to Samuel Korsholm), Cheyenne (married to Jeremy Van Hierden), Nikita, Peyton, and his grandson Valour to carry forward the legacy of love he established in their lives.

 He embraced the life God gave him with vigor and gratefulness, always ready to travel, to serve, to contribute wherever he was. The love of travel and serving carried him to many locations where he used his practical know-how and farming skills to rebuild homes, construct agricultural buildings, and serve food to those needing a hand up. Not one to sit still, Darryl would often take to the open skies in his Piper Cherokee, or jump on his Honda Shadow to explore roads less travelled, scale mountains with his Skidoo Summit, or even hit the streets of Lethbridge with his fully restored ‘69 Ford Mustang.

 Darryl’s life testified to being loved and living loved and he held tenaciously to his life’s scripture; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” Prov 3:5,6. His faith in God’s ways carried him on the path of sudden illness and suffering with supernatural peace. He will be dearly missed.

 He also leaves behind his dear mother Betty Groenenboom, his sisters Terrie (Willie) Tietz, Marion (Frank) Jankunis, his brother Joe (Corlene) Groenenboom, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and their families. Darryl also leaves to mourn Helen Toews, Sheldon (Lynn) Toews, Laurali (Carlin) Fehr, and their families. He was predeceased by his Father Jochem Groenenboom, Father-in-law Bruno Toews, as well as two preborn children. 

 As a family we would also like to thank the many medical professionals that attended to Darryl’s needs; from the ER staff, to the nursing team on 4C, to the home care team that made his last days as comfortable as possible. We are grateful for your care.

 As Darryl’s life was strongly defined by faith, farming, and flying, donations to Shareword Global (formerly known as the Gideons) https://expressions.bible/dedicate-donation, Canadian Foodgrains Bank https://foodgrainsbank.ca/donate/, or Missionary Aviation Fellowship https://www.mafc.org/donate in his memory are gratefully accepted. 

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERIVEW CHAPEL, 610-4TH Street South, Lethbridge, with a short program and opportunity to share starting at 6:30 PM.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, on March 9, 2022 at the EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF LETHBRIDGE, 4717 24 Ave S, Lethbridge. A private Interment will be held prior to the service. To watch the service via livestream, please go to http://youtu.be/QiHZYtISpKE 

     Donations to Shareword Global (formerly known as the Gideons), 501 Imperial Rd N, Guelph, ON N1H 6T9, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, 393 Portage Ave #400, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 https://foodgrainsbank.ca/donate/in-memoriam/

  or Missionary Aviation Fellowship, 102-195 Hanlon Creek Blvd, Guelph, ON N1C 0A1, in memory of Darryl’s faith, farming, and flying, are gratefully accepted.