Cpl. Chad Groepper visited with wife Stephanie and daughter Clarissa while home on leave in this picture from 2007. Groepper was killed while serving in the Iraq war Feb. 17 of this year, but his memory will live on. The first annual Cpl. Chad Groepper Benefit Memorial Golf Tournament to raise money for Clarissa's college education will be Sept. 27. [Click to enlarge]

Cpl. Chad Groepper and Nick Wurth's friendship bond continues today even though Groepper was killed Feb. 17 while serving in the Iraq war.

Wurth, who became friends with Groepper in first grade, wanted to do something to help his friend's widow, Stephanie, and 11-month-old daughter, Clarissa.

So the Kingsley man came up with the idea to help pay for Clarissa's college education with a fundraiser, and the Cpl. Chad Groepper Benefit Memorial Golf Tournament was born.

"I know how hard it is to lose someone," Wurth said. "Losing someone, it's hard to keep money coming in so I wanted to do this so she would have a steady college fund when she got old enough."

The benefit will be Saturday, Sept. 27 and will include a 5-7 p.m. dinner, a 7 p.m. live auction and an 8 p.m. to midnight dance with a D.J., following the Four Man Best golf tournament, at Brookside Golf Course in Kingsley.

Tee-times haven't yet been set as that will depend on how many teams register.

Wurth said he wanted to have a golf tournament for the benefit because he likes to golf, and he and Groepper played together at the Kingsley course when they were younger.

Stephanie, in an email, said Chad and his friends golfed at least once a week, and she remembered a time when she accompanied them.

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"The boys couldn't hit a ball straight and it ended up being pretty hilarious," Stephanie said. "I've never seen so many golf balls bounce off of trees."

As for the benefit, Wurth said he wouldn't have been able to put it together if not for his family's help and the support of the Kingsley community.

"We've got hogs donated for the supper, a friend of the family is going to be the auctioneer," Wurth said. "Everybody's donating something to it."

In the community, Wurth said he has heard positive comments about the benefit.

"A lot of people say they'll be there, and if they can't be there they are still going to make donations," Wurth said. "We're getting a lot (of support) from Kingsley and the surrounding areas."

Stephanie, who lives in Washington, and Chad's parents, David and Darcy Groepper, of Kingsley, said in an email they "appreciate all the community support since Chad's death."

Already there are 14 teams signed up for the benefit golf tournament with people coming from two or three hours away as well as locally, Wurth said.

Pre-registration for the golf tournament and dinner is required by Monday, Sept. 15. People can sign-up by calling Dixie Wurth at 712-540-9645. Tickets cost $30 to golf, for dinner and a T-shirt and $20 for dinner and a T-shirt.

People are also invited to attend only the auction and dance where a free-will offering will be taken, and anyone wanting to donate items for the auction can call Dixie.

Nick Wurth plans to continue holding an annual fundraiser to add to Clarissa's college fund until she's 18, but the types of benefits could vary in the future, Wurth said.

Stephanie said via email the annual fundraiser for her daughter will not only be a financial but also an emotional relief.

"I am looking forward to bringing Rissa to Iowa for the fundraiser in the coming years, to see the support, commitment, to hear tons of stories about her daddy and to see what a hero he was," Stephanie wrote.

Chad's mom, Darcy said via email, the benefit is a "great idea" because Clarissa's education was important to Chad as it is to Stephanie.

"They had started saving as soon as they learned they were expecting," Darcy wrote.

A member of the Le Mars National Guard who also served in the Iraq war, Wurth said hosting an annual fundraiser to help provide for Clarissa's future is nothing special.

"I knew it was something I had to do because we always take care of our fallen brother soldiers," Wurth said.