John Raymond Grudzinski's
Obituary

The rosary/memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Hays of St. Patrick Catholic Church officiating.

There will be a private family interment at Mountain View Cemetery in the Catholic section. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Mr. Grudzinski was born June 24, 1912 in Ashton, Neb., to Joseph and Mary Wiezorcek Grudzinski. He attended school in the Rockville, Neb., area. He also farmed in that area for 15 years.

He married Esther Marie Peters Jan. 11, 1936, in Ashton, Neb. In 1950, they moved to Walla Walla, where he was employed by Ritchie Construction. The family later moved to Loup City, Neb., where he worked for 5 1/2 years at the Cornhuskers Ordinance plant in Grand Island, Neb.

The family returned to Walla Walla in 1966, and Grudzinski worked in construction, including on the relocation of most of the dams in the area.

In 1970 Mr. Grudzinski and his wife divorced. He married Ella Mae Wasemiller in 1971 in Walla Walla. They later divorced.

He retired in 1975. He enjoyed gardening and farming, and was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Association of Retired People, a 28-year member of the F.O.E. No. 26, and a 40-year member of the Northwest Laborers Union Local No. 348.

He is survived by three daughters, Norma Jean Long of Walla Walla, Dorothy Melzer of High Point, N.C., Darlene Glassic of Lehighton, Pa., one son Mark Allen Grudzinski of Walla Walla; four sisters, Margaret Nesteby of Walla Walla, Phyllis Hahn of Milton-Freewater, Gladys Dukleth of Pasco and Blanche Morris of Paso Robles, Calif; seven grandchildren, five grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Edwin and Edmund Grudzinski; a sister, Evelyn Dorszynski; and a granddaughter Christine Glassic.

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Sunday, December 29, 1996