John R. Grogan, 86, of Winter Garden, FL passed away peacefully at Cornerstone Hospice on March 19, 2021. John was born May 22, 1934 in Warren Michigan, a son of Charles Grogan and Katherine Quinn. He attended Warren High School and graduated class of 1954. After serving in the US Army he married Irene Farineau of Fitchburg, MA on January 9, 1960 and together they raised their five children.
After his time in the Army, John worked at Ford Motor company (while also winning at checkers and many hands of poker with his co-workers). They then moved to Los Angeles in the late 60’s where John used his charismatic charm, driving and negotiation skills while working as a tour guide. In 1980 they moved to Colorado Springs, CO where he changed careers to be a real estate appraiser, which suited his adept puzzle-solving skills. They made many lifelong friends while living there and loved exploring the outdoors and eating out often at their favorite Italian restaurants – especially Luigi’s pizza. After John narrowly survived stage 4 bladder cancer in 1995, they decided to head to a warmer climate and joined their kids who were living in Florida. They enjoyed the beautiful white sand beaches and sunsets of Sarasota while living there from 2000-2018 before making their way to Winter Garden, Florida to be closer to family.
John certainly had the luck of the Irish and continued to survive and thrive through 3 separate bouts of cancer and additional health scares over the years, all while defying the life expectancy any of his doctors could have predicted. His family feels so fortunate to have been able to share these additional years of John’s life where he enjoyed all his favorite things, while always maintaining that signature John Grogan humor, grin and twinkle in those beautiful blue eyes.
Always recognized by his blue polo shirts with one pocket and pens, tan legs and white Velcro sneakers, John loved spending time with his family, playing golf, pool, bowling and darts, riding in his golf cart to downtown Winter Garden to enjoy patio happy hours, eating king crab legs and shrimp alfredo, reading the entire paper every morning, yelling at the news, telling dad jokes, watching talent and cooking shows over dinner, humming along to Dean Martin songs, playing lotto and scratch-off tickets, Soduko and crossword puzzles, making friends with all his nurses and always singing the Happy Birthday song to his kids and grandkids on their special days.
John was adored by everyone who met him and will certainly be missed by his surviving family; his wife of 61 years, Irene Grogan, his 5 children; Theresa Ciccarelli of Orlando FL, Rick Grogan of Bradenton FL, Kevin Grogan of Winter Garden FL, Steven Grogan of Orlando FL, and Diane Brown of San Diego CA; his 5 grandchildren, Trevor Grogan, Gavin Grogan, Jonas Grogan, Amanda Mindlin, and Sara King. As one of 11 children, he is survived by 6 of them; Tom, Michael, Patrick, Pete, Mary and Patricia – and more nieces and nephews than most can keep track of.
You are invited to share your kind thoughts, condolences and fond memories with John's family by leaving a message in their on-line guestbook at John R Grogan's Memorial Website | Ever Loved. At John’s prior request there will be no public services, only a private Celebration of Life for his immediate family. Arrangements are under the care of Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home in Winter Garden, FL.
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