James  Grocholski

Obituary of James Andrew Grocholski

James Andrew Grocholski (100) died on April 14, 2020, after a short stay at Viewcrest Health Center in Duluth. He was born February 14, 1920, in Duluth, to John and Helen Grocholski. Jim served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1938 to 1945. He was assigned to the Hawaiian Detachment on the USS Indianapolis which was out of its home port of Pearl Harbor to make a simulated bombardment at Johnston Atoll when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In 1946, he met Mary Elizabeth Legg of West Virginia, in Washington D.C. where he was working in a Naval gun factory. They married that year and lived in Arlington, Virginia, later settling in Duluth. Jim worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad, Duluth Air National Guard Base, Erie Mining Company and sailed the Great Lakes as a merchant marine until retiring in 1983.

By his own account, he led a full and charmed life graced with the comforts of family, his furry friends, good health and independence or “Heaven on Earth,” as he described it. Jim was a wonderful caregiver to Mary in her final years (even learning to cook) and was rewarded with many years of being in the company of his daughters enjoying drives up the shore, dinners, plays, train rides, long road trips, evenings at the casino, watching comedy and romance, playing cards and having many lively discussions. He was always engaged in politics and current events and enjoyed trading in the stock market. In the summer he could be seen feeding squirrels and driving his scooter all over West Duluth.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his sister Dorothy Kulas, brother Edward (George) Grocholski, son-in-law, Raymond LaPlante, Jr., and grandson, Anthony LaPlante. He is survived by his daughters, Rosemary Maki (Alan), Ellen Hoffman (Robert), Jane LaPlante, Susanna Jorgensen, Deborah Grocholski (Phyl Hames) and Linda Taylor; his grandchildren, Michele DeCormier (Jerome), Michael Hoffman, Melissa McCue (Fred), Jennifer Kuchar (Paul), Katie Jorgensen, Andrew Jorgensen, Jake Taylor and Samuel Hames Grocholski, 13 great grandchildren and his cat and best friend, Poe.

No service will be held at this time.

A Memorial Tree was planted for James
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cremation Society Of Minnesota | Duluth
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