Paul E. DeGroot

ST. ANNE - Paul Eugene DeGroot, 65, of St. Anne, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. He was born August 23, 1958, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Donna and Virgil DeGroot. Paul was the beloved husband to his wife Cynthia Diana DeGroot (nee Lentz) for 41 years; hardworking, dedicated father to his three sons and daughters-in-law Andrew (Jessica), Adam (Jenny) & Aaron (Avery); proud “Papa” to Lexie, Levi, Logan, Marshall, Eloise, and Juliet DeGroot; Dear brother to sister Patricia DeGroot and Twin sister Paula DeGroot, sisters-in-law Kathy DeGroot and Debbie Kramer and fond uncle of his nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by parents Virgil & Donna DeGroot, brother James DeGroot & mother- & father-in-law Noel & Frances Lentz. For over 50 years, Paul was a vegetable and grain farmer, working alongside his brother and business partner Jim and three sons Andrew, Adam, and Aaron at their family farm in the unincorporated Wichert area north of St. Anne. Paul had an unmatched work ethic and lifelong dedication to growing the family farm and passing it along to the next generation. The self-proclaimed “Mayor of Wichert,” Paul loved his community and family heritage. He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman, loving to hunt, fish, and shoot sporting clays across North America with his sons and friends. Paul had a fun and colorful personality and went by many nicknames - “Papa,” “Paulie,” “Pablo.” He will be forever in our hearts. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 28, and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, December 29, at the First Reformed Church of Wichert, 7696 E 4500S Road, St. Anne. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, December 29, also at First Reformed Church of Wichert. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, St. Anne (Wichert). Memorials may be made to the First Reformed Church of Wichert, where Paul was a lifelong member.