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John F. Grenell II, 49
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10/29/2012 9:12:00 AM
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Beloved son, brother, father, uncle, veteran and loyal friend, John F. Grenell II died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 at his home in Shippensburg. He was born May 4, 1963 in Towanda to Alice M. (nee Rittell) Grenell and the late John F. Grenell. He was employed by TST/Impreso, Inc. in Chambersburg.
After attending St. Agnes grade school and Towanda High School, John studied criminal justice at Corning Community College, N.Y. In 1984 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for eight years, achieving the rank of sergeant and military police. John was stationed in locations in the U.S. and around the world including Alabama, Texas, Virginia, California, Hawaii, Panama, Korea and Thailand. While in San Antonio he was on special assignment at The Alamo on security duty for former President George Herbert Walker Bush and had the opportunity to meet the president. While In California he was on the ready for potential deployment in the first Gulf War. In Korea, he crossed the military demarcation line into communist North Korea as an official guest of the United Nations Command Security Force-Joint Security Area, Pan Mun Jom. While in the service he earned a number of awards for leadership and team spirit.
Following an honorable discharge from the army in 1992, John became a master welder. Trained and employed by the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in Virginia, he was one of an elite group of highly skilled welders who were privileged to work on the USS George H.W. Bush CVN77, the tenth and final Nimitz-class super carrier of the United States Navy. He also worked on the USS Carl Vinson and the SSN750 Newport News. He continued his welding career for many years in other locations in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
John was loved by many and he was loving toward many. Some of his friends from the army say he was always helping them out and was 'the guy with the big heart'. Siblings and other relatives recall his loyalty, courage, his love for his son Eddie, love of the outdoors, fishing, hunting, music, grilling, Thai food, reading, birds, martial arts and his love for his golden retriever Bear. He was a kind and considerate person with a gentle spirit. He will be dearly missed. He always will be loved.
He is survived by his mother, Alice M. Grenell of Towanda; his son, Edward J. Grenell of Panama City, Panama; his seven sisters Alice C. Grenell of Pleasantville, Margaret R. Markot of Wanaque N.J., Ann M. Grenell of Needham Mass., Joan L. Grenell of Monroeton, Carol Gowin of Towanda, Eileen P. Grenell of Shippensburg and Ellen Grenell of Narberth; his niece, Jacqueline L. Markot of New York City; his brothers-in-law Jay Markot of Wanaque N.J., Anthony Gowin of Towanda and Ed McGettigan of Narberth; Leland Scott of Pleasantville and Stephen Hiltz of Needham Mass.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. John also leaves behind dear friend Todd Berdan and many other army buddies, especially from Fort Sam Houston, Texas; in Shippensburg, Pastor Nancy Hudson, Christopher Sheffield and other friends at the Oasis of Love Church, Terry and Cindy Pogue, Sam and Cathy Gehrett, and friends at American Legion Post 223; and in Chambersburg Derek Gibson and other friends at TST.
In addition to his father, John was preceded in death by his grandparents James and Adeline Rittell, grandparents Volney and Agnes Grenell, and his long-time friend Jim Dunn of Franklindale.
Professional services have been handled by Dugan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Shippensburg. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home in Towanda with Rev. Edward L. Michelini and Rev. Nancy Hudson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow in the Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Towanda. Online memories and condolences may be expressed and shared by visiting the website of www.duganfh.com.
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