Janet L. Groppe

Janet Louise Hopkins-Groppe, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico went to be with her lord on Thursday July 12th, 2018.  Janet was born October 9th, 1940, in Denver, Colorado to Ira Omar and Marjory Holbrook-Hopkins.  Due to the deaths of her parents, she became the ward of her Uncle, Author (Art) Holbrook at the age of 11 of Topeka, Kansas.  She attended St. John’s High School Academy, in Winfield, Kansas, where at the age of 15 she met the love of her life Edwin (Ed) Author Groppe.  After graduation, she and Ed were married August 10th, 1958, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  While in Cheyenne, Janet and Ed worked full time while building eleven homes working side-by-side in their off hours.  She and Ed purchased the Bronco Lodge and moved their family from Cheyenne to Amarillo, Texas in 1973.  Later they purchased C & C Hardware in Amarillo and ran it until December 2003, when they retired and moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. 

Janet was preceded in death by her parents (Ira and Marjory), Uncle Art, infant son David Author Groppe and infant grandson Jonathan Rolland Groppe.  Janet is survived by Ed, her husband of nearly 60 years of Rio Rancho, her daughter Carla Swihart and son-in-law Arlan Swihart of Rio Rancho, Son Kevin Groppe and daughter-in-law Susan Groppe of Sugarland, Texas.  Grandchildren:  Jace David Swihart and wife Beka of Killeen, Texas; Blake Swihart and wife Shelby of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kacie Swihart of Amarillo, Texas; Stephen Groppe and Rebekah Groppe of Sugarland, Texas and Romell Jordan of Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Janet loved first and foremost, her family and friends; thereafter, her passion was travel especially road trips with Ed.  Later in life she loved their winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama and the view of the ocean and the beaches from their balconies high above the waves.