Louise Groger
Louise Groger | |
|---|---|
 Mrs. Louise Groger at her pioneer post on Chiloe Islands. | |
| Born | April 11, 1907 San Francisco, California, USA |
| Died | March 22, 1999 California, USA |
Louise A. Groger (April 11, 1907 - March 22, 1999) was an American Bahá’í who was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to Chiloé Island.
Biography[edit]
Groger was born into a Catholic family in San Francisco in 1907 and she married and had three children while living in the city.[1] In 1935 she visited her parents in Chicago where her father was working as a clerk in the US Army and they visited the Wilmette Temple together, although as it was uncomplete at the time Groger initially felt disappointed.[2]
Despite her initial reaction Groger studied the Faith and declared in San Francisco on October 12, 1936, and began attending the Geyserville Bahá’í Summer School,[3] and she was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco in 1938 serving until 1949.[4] Her husband, Ted, also declared in 1941,[4] and that year they began serving on the Geyserville School Committee ultimately serving until 1948.[4] Ted passed due to an accident in 1949.[5]
In 1950 Groger pioneered to Punta Arenas in Chile serving until 1952 when her mother passed, prompting her to return to the United States for a brief period.[5] She attended the dedication of the Wilmette Temple in 1953 while in the US and after the Ten Year Crusade was launched that year she volunteered to pioneer and was advised she should open Chiloé to the Faith.[6] She arrived on the island on June 13, 1954, joining fellow pioneer Zunilda Palacios and she purchased a house where she lived with Palacios and her daughter.[2]
The first Bahá’í of Chiloé declared in 1955 and in 1957 a second person declared although in 1958 Zunilda and her daughter departed leaving Groger as the sole pioneer. She was visited by Salvador Tormo in 1959 who delivered a talk on the Faith to her contacts. She supported herself on Chiloé by growing and selling fruit and vegetables and having female boarders and was able to remain on the island until 1968.[6]
Groger returned to the United States in 1968 settling in Tuolumne County in northern California and began working at the New York Dry Goods Store which was run by her family.[6] She was the sole Bahá’í in the County up until 1994.[7] In December, 1993, Groger visited Punta Arenas and Chiloé Island again accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter.[7]
Groger passed away in California in 1999. She was frequently visited by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and members of the Bahá’í community in her final days.[7] The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following in a message after her passing:
DEEPLY SADDENED LOSS VALIANT KNIGHT BAHA’U’LLAH FOR CHILOE ISLAND GREATLY LOVED LOUISE A. GROGER. HER SETTLEMENT AND LONG YEARS PIONEERING THIS REMOTE ISLAND WILL EVER ADORN ANNALS BAHÁ'Í HISTORY.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 226
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 226
- ↑ Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 227
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 228
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 229
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 230
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 231
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2000). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 27 (1998-1999), Pg(s) 307. View as PDF.
