John Joseph Grocholl

John Joseph Grocholl, 84, Rockford, passed away Saturday, February 6, 2016, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born March 26, 1931, in Chicago, the son of John Joseph and Victoria (Krasniewski) Grocholl. John was an Army veteran serving during the Korean War as a medic in Germany from 1952 to 1954. He graduated from the University of Illinois Medical School of Pharmacy in 1958. He married Mary “Maggie” LaPorte in Chicago on October 4, 1958. John was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was a devout Catholic. He was a Registered Pharmacist and worked as a sales rep for Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals for 35 years retiring in 1993. He was a member of the Kiwanis of Rockford and was active in the Northern Illinois Pharmaceutical Association. John was an avid hunter and fisherman and during his retirement years he enjoyed traveling the world with Maggie. He and Maggie enjoyed spending their winters in Naples, FL. John was devoted to his family and loved spending time with them.
Survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Maggie; his children, Mary (Mark) Johnson of Rockford, Victoria “Vickie” Groves of Fox River Grove, Ann (Dean) Earp of Rockford, John (Tami) Grocholl of Goode, VA, Therese “Tess” (Adrian) Koning of Melbourne, Australia, Matthew (Becky) Grocholl of Rockton, Mark (Holly) Grocholl of Rockton, Luke (Ruth) Grocholl of White Fish Bay, WI; 18 grandchildren, Sarah (Stephen) Kaufmann, Caroline Johnson, Benjamin, Alexander, and Nicholas Groves, Jonathan, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Magdelynne Earp, Stephanie (Brady) Tuttle, John, Adam, and Amy Grocholl, Jessica Koning, and Luke, Joseph, Peter, and Lauren Grocholl. Predeceased by his parents.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, February 12, 2016, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Rd. Rockford. Visitation from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, February 11, 2016, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. and from 9:00 A.M. until 9:45 A.M. on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4312 E. State St. Ste 1, Rockford, 61108. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.