Kenneth R. Groennert

Kenneth R. Groennert, 38, of Mascoutah, IL, born July 19, 1973 in Belleville, IL, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL surrounded by his loving family.


Kenny was a Captain and acting engineer for the Monarch Fire Protection District in Chesterfield, MO; a Lieutenant for the Mascoutah Volunteer Fire Department; a Fire Science Instructor at SWIC; and a retiree from the Mascoutah Ambulance Service. He was a member of Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah, IL; a 1991 graduate of Mascoutah Community High School; and graduate of SWIC. Kenny had an AAS Degree in Paramedic Technology and AAS Degree in Fire Science Technology; was a certified Rope Rescue Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician, Trench rescue Technician, Structural Collapse Technician, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Swiftwater Boat Operator Technician; also certified in Special Operations Aviation Rescue, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), and Pediatric Life Support (PALS); was a CPR Instructor, Basic Trauma Life Support Instructor (BTLS), Missouri Firefighter I & II, Illinois Fire Officer I & II, and Illinois Fire Instructor I & II.


He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Robert Mehring; paternal grandparents, Harvey W. L. and Ophelia Groennert; maternal grandparents, Fred and Capitola Miller; and maternal grandfather-in-law, Freddie Booten.


He is survived by his wife, Heather R., nee Mehring, Groennert who he married in Mascoutah, IL on May 4, 1996; two daughters, Hailey and Payton Groennert of Mascoutah, IL; his parents, Harvey C. L. and Marlene, nee Miller, Groennert Sr. of Mascoutah, IL; a sister Stephanie (Gregory) Vogel of Freeburg, IL; brother, Harvey C. L. Groennert, Jr. of Freeburg, IL; mother-in-law, Wendy A. Schmitt of Mascoutah, IL; brother-in-law, Jared Schmitt of Mascoutah, IL; a niece and nephew, Alexis and Geoffrey Vogel of Freeburg, IL; grandparents-in-law, Grace Booten of Belleville, IL, and Robert and Mildred Mehring of Waterloo, IL; aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.


Memorials may be made to Hailey and Payton Groennert Education Fund, c/o Scott Credit Union, 1248 W. Main St., Mascoutah, IL 62258.


Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 and from 7:30 to 9 AM Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at the Moll Funeral Home in Mascoutah, IL. A Firefighters Walk Through and Prayer will be held 8 PM Friday evening at the funeral home.


Funeral: A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 AM Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah, IL with Msgr. Jerome Hartlein officiating. Burial will be in Holy Childhood Catholic Cemetery, Mascoutah, IL.