The funeral service for Mike H. Groff of Albert Lea will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Clarks Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Marvin &8220;Mike&8221; Groff was born on April 28, 1927, in Freeborn County, the son of Samuel and Lavina Dell (Drown) Groff.

He attended rural country school and as a young man began working on area farms. Mike enlisted in the U.S. Marines in July of 1945, receiving his honorable discharge in August of 1946.

On Oct. 25, 1945, he was united in marriage to Lorraine &8220;Rainy&8221; Halseth. They made their home in Albert Lea. He had worked at Wilson&8217;s and then at Universal Cooperatives as the printing supervisor for more than 25 years. Mike enjoyed and was very good at his work in the printing industry.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church.

Mike was passionate about his family and so enjoyed spending time with them camping, fishing, and hunting. He had coached squirt hockey for a time.

He and Lorraine &8220;Rainy&8221; enjoyed dancing to his favorite band the &8220;Blue Banners&8221;, and his daughters have many fond memories of dancing with Daddy. Driving a new car always put a smile on his face.

Mike died on Monday, May 26, at Oak Park Place in Albert Lea. He was 81.

Mike is survived by five children: Dianne Burkart of Albert Lea, Michael Groff of Florence, S.C., Nancy and her husband Jim Thompson of Albert Lea, David Groff of Albert Lea, Randy Groff and his wife LorRae of Mankato, grandchildren: Michelle Drescher of Nashville, Tenn., Todd (Paula) Burkart of Eagan, Tami (Dale) Riecke of Hartland, Matthew Groff of Pennsylvania, Jason Thompson of Albert Lea, Shaun (Brie) Thompson of Rochester, Katie Jacobson of Stewartville, Amanda Enger of Albert Lea, Melissa Groff of Albert Lea, Heidi, Luke, and Emily Groff of Mankato, great grandchildren: Cory and Jennifer Flattum, Brittany and Kadin Burkart, Sarah and Anna Riecke, Autumn and Taylor Thompson, Wyatt and Addilyn Jacobson and Kelsey and Carter Enger; sisters Shirley El Dorado of Minneapolis, Avis Mussehl of Dubuque, Iowa,

sisters-in-law Shirley Groff of Austin, Norma Ruud of Albert Lea, Delores Syed of Los Angeles, Calif., brother-in-law Nordean (Barbara) Halseth of Perry, Fla., and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, His wife Lorraine &8220;Rainy&8221; in 2005,

son-in-law Dick Burkart, four brothers and two sisters.