John Grotenrath

John ‘Jack” Gellert Grotenrath III, of Cedar Springs, formerly of Marne, passed away on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.  Jack was born April 8, 1934 in Grand Rapids to the late Pauline Grotenrath and John G. Grotenrath II.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Julia in 1980 and his second wife, Lois in April 2021. Recently his sister, Judith Shoup passed away. He is survived by his brother, Robert Grotenrath.  Jack is also survived by his children, Doug (Judy) Grotenrath, Don (Debra) Grotenrath, Cindy Grotenrath, John (Freida) Grotenrath, Jim (Ally) Grotenrath.  His stepchildren, Mike (Cindy) Kiaunis, Dan Kiaunis & Micki, Mary (Brent) Bradford, and Bill (Michelle) Kiaunis.  His grandchildren, Michael Grotenrath & Corey Edge, Dan (Christina) Grotenrath, Lindsey Takus, Samuel, Jake (Jodi), Ryan, Maddie and Nick Grotenrath.  He is also survived by his step grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.  Additionally, he is survived by his sister-in-law Betty Oziemkiewicz, brother-in-law, Jim Franck and sister-in-law Sally Gibson. During his youth he lived in East Grand Rapids, and the Bronx, NY where his father was a naval officer assigned to the naval reserve midshipman school at Fort Schuyler, NY.  The Grotenrath family eventually settled in Marne, Michigan where Jack graduated from Berlin High School in 1952. He excelled in football, baseball and basketball.  He enlisted in the Navy and served from 1952-1953. He married this high school classmate, Julia Oziemkiewicz on October 29, 1955.  Together they raised their children on Hayes Street next door to his late in-laws, John and Lucy Oziemkiewicz.  Julie passed away from cancer in 1980.  Jack eventually remarried Lois (Kiaunis).  They lived in Walker, MI and retired at Crawford Lake in Cedar Springs, MI. Jack was a baseball coach for many years for the Marne Little League where to this day his kids still run into former players. Donations to American Cancer Society or St. Ann’s Home. At the Family’s requests there will be a private service. An online guestbook may be signed at www.throopfh.com