Gift shop gallery named for local philanthropist

The Edna M. Groetken Gift Shop Gallery in the new bay 1 area of the roundhouse building was officially opened during the sixth annual Ag-Rail Heritage Festival held during Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, 2008.

The new gift shop area, named for the longtime Sioux City resident, is an area where visitors can purchase gift and souvenir items, including railroad books, as a token of remembering their visit to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, or to continue their learning experience about the railroad industry through the books and educational toys available in the gift shop. The new gift shop area is furnished with glass display cases donated by the Sioux City Public Museum and display gondolas and racks purchased during the closing sale of Linen and Things in Sioux City.

Miss Groetken passed away Monday, May 7, 2007, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She bequeathed nearly $125,000 to the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association for construction work to preserve and rebuild the roundhouse building. The gift from Ms. Groetken was the largest bequeath in the SHRA’s history. “We are incredibly grateful,” stated Jon Wagoner, SHRA president, “for the untold benefits countless visitors and local residents will receive from the remarkable generosity of Miss Groetken, not to mention the ripple effect this contribution will make in preserving the Milwaukee Railroad Shops for current and future generations to enjoy as a railroad industrial science and heritage museum.”

Her bequest was used to help finance the construction of the bay 1, a two-level area of the roundhouse building that houses the gift shop gallery, atrium welcome center, exhibit gallery and administrative center. The costs associated with this project were approximately $450,000. Her bequest helped match the federal/statewide transportation grant of $266,762.

Miss Groetken served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following her military service, she worked as a secretary in several Sioux City medical offices. She was an active volunteer with the Sioux City Police Department, where she helped in the investigative department working with fingerprinting. She was one of the Police Department’s first civilian volunteers.

She was a life member of the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 of Le Mars and was the first female state commander of the American Legion of Iowa. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Miss Groetken was often a visitor to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. She had fond memories of trains traveling through the Le Mars area and Sioux City.