John Michael Grudzinski

John Michael Grudzinski was born on February 24, 1947 to John and Adeline Grudzinski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent his twenty years in the Army all over the US and Germany and gave a year of his life to Viet Nam. He lived the kind of life only a few can imagine and completed the mission on Friday, August 14, 2020. A private memorial service for John will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Cameron First United Methodist Church, located at 112 N Travis Ave, Cameron, TX 76520, or you may donate using this link: https://cameronfumc.com/give John is preceded in death by half-sisters and brothers; Carol Timm, Elizabeth Hubbell Grinols, Charles Hubbell, Richard Hubbell, full brother, Dave Grudzinski and infant sister Lucille Grudzinski, all of Milwaukee. And also, his son Freddie Grudzinski of Germany. He is survived by his half-brother Raymond Hubbell. John leaves behind his loving wife, Connie, his own daughter, Rebecca Grudzinski and her children McKenzie and Michael, his step-children, Cynthia Barnette and her husband Doug and their children, Elizabeth and Madison of Tomball, Texas, Tracie Howard and her children Aspen and Eli of Strasberg, Colorado, and Will Howard and his wife, Francesca and their children, William, Brady, and Layla of Soldotna, Alaska. Also, his grandsons, children of Freddie, Steven and Kevin Neuhaus of Berlin, Germany. And numerous nieces and nephews. John spent most of his military career in Germany and many years in Colorado and in Army bases from the east coast to the west coast. Upon retiring from the Army at Fort Hood, Texas, he enrolled in Central Texas College where he studied Ag, Art, and chasing nurses. Fortunately, he caught a teacher instead and has been married to her for 30 years. Tiring of the lower 48 ad the heat of Texas, John's wild adventures with his family turned toward Alaska where he and Connie built a log cabin in the woods using logs they cut from their own land. Every day of their fifteen year romp in Alaska was more exciting than the last, but all good things must come to a close and John took his adventures back to Texas where he settled in Buckholts, near Killeen and Fort Hood, to continued his lifelong hobby of raising and improving his racing pigeon flock. John would willingly lay down his life for a stranger, move a mountain to save a child, and give his last dollar and even his home to someone whom he thought needed it more. He was equally at home living off the land in the wilderness or enjoying the opera wearing a tux. And he could make a very fine bottle of Alaskan wild berry wine. John loved his family, his pigeons, and travel. He saw the Rocky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Denali. He saw the Great Lakes and the great oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the deserts, and the arctic. He experienced the world from Germany to Japan, hunted and fished in places few ever see, enjoyed mountain climbing, rappelling, the Northern Lights, and nude beaches. Old soldiers never die, they go on patrol and leave behind a legacy of strength, pride, loyalty, and love of God and country. John will be missed. Arrangements are entrusted to Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Belton. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Michael Grudzinski please visit our Sympathy Store.