Memorial Services for Dean M. Groff of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. Joel Vano will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veteran’s organizations. Friends may visit with family from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before services at the church.

Dean died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. Dean Mark Groff was born Sept. 8, 1953, in Albert Lea, the son of Edward E. and Doris J. (Heckes) Groff. He was an Albert Lea High School graduate, and then served our country in the U.S. Marines from April of 1972 until his honorable discharge in April of 1974. Dean was united in marriage to Laurie D. Warnke on Nov. 29, 1980, at the Rich Valley Lutheran Church in Rosemount. Dean and Laurie made their home in Albert Lea, and Dean had been employed at Streater for more than 30 years. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and also the Moose Club.

Dean was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and his yearly trips to the Boundary Waters. An avid Twins fan, a big highlight for Dean was 2011 Spring Training Camp in Florida, where he had opportunity to throw out the first pitch.

Dean is survived by his wife, Laurie, of Albert Lea; two sons: Andy Groff of Bloomington and his fianceé, Amy Puls, and Ben Groff of Albert Lea and his fiancée, Brieana Hanna, and her daughter, Kaitlyn; his mother, Doris Groff, of Albert Lea; sister, Susan (Don) Morris of Albert Lea; brother, Tim Groff of Albert Lea; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kermit and Murielle Warnke, of Rosemount; brothers-in-law: Keith Warnke of Lakeville and Wayne Warnke (Cathy) of River Falls, Wis.; sisters-in-law: Lynette (Fred) Cook of Altoona, Iowa, Julie (Neil) Seledic, Cohasset; many nieces and nephews, and special companion “Gunner.”

Dean was preceded in death by his father, Edward Groff, and sister-in-law, Beth Warnke.

Dean will be greatly missed by his family and friends.