Gerald H. Groenewold, 80, was born November 3, 1945, in Forreston IL to George (born Gerd) and Edna (Heeren) Groenewold. He was his mother's only child but had older siblings from his father's prior marriage. He died at home in Grand Forks September 11, 2026, from sudden complications of congestive heart failure.

Gerry graduated from Forreston High School in 1963, received a degree in geology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 1967, followed by a Ph.D. in environmental geology from the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks in 1972.

After a brief marriage in the late 1960s to Lynn Hunt, he married Joanne Van Ornum in 1970. They had one son together, Gerd, and were divorced in 1977. Two more sons, Nikolaus and Justin, arrived after his marriage to Connie Triplett in 1981.

Dr. Groenewold loved geological field work. His happiest workdays took place in the ND Badlands, when he was employed by the ND Geological Survey (following a two-year stint with the Ohio Geological Survey where he learned hard lessons about the politics of environmental cleanup).

The last 27 years of his career were spent as Director of the Energy & Environmental Research Center at UND, where he oversaw dramatic growth in physical plant size, number of research dollars, and number of employees. The center had a world-wide reputation for excellence by the end of his career in 2012.

In their retirement, Connie and Gerry built a second home near Livingston MT, which gradually became their primary home, although they were never able to leave Grand Forks entirely.

Life was a never-ending adventure for Gerry. He was intense and passionate about many things, but especially his family, his work, the preservation of the natural world, history, and travel (especially throughout the American West and Ostfriesland in northern Germany, from where his father had immigrated as a young adult).

His passion for history was reflected in his hobbies – or were they obsessions?  –  including preserving and restoring antique furniture, horse-drawn vehicles, and early automobiles. Many of his most enduring friendships resulted from those hobbies.

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Grant and Grant's wife Bev, his sister Gretchen and her husband John Korzak, and by his niece Carrie Korzak and nephew Greg Groenewold.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Connie Triplett; his three sons and their wives: Gerd (Stacey Wilber), Nikolaus (Samantha Grimm), and Justin (Allison Ho). Also, seven grandchildren: Lux and Gerald; Lila, Arianna, and Jocelynn; Helen and Penelope; niece Elizabeth Groenewold (Ekkehard Schoettle); nephews Guy (Dawn) Groenewold, Gary (Kathy) Groenewold, and John Korzak.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September, 19, 2026 at 11:00 am in the Norman Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND

Visitation will be one hour before service time in the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery in Livingston, MT.