1928
John
2008
John I. Grm Jr
May 24, 1928 — November 15, 2008
John I. Grm Jr., 80, of Lorain, Lorain businessman and entrepreneur, passed away Saturday, November 15, 2008 at his residence while under the care of New Life Hospice.
Born May 24, 1928 in Raka, Slovenia, he moved to Germany in 1941 where he worked for Deimler/Mercedes in Kassel. He also worked there as an ambulance EMT for the Wetter/Ruhr Fire Department. In 1960, John moved to Lorain and founded Grm Inc. and Lake Erie Upholstery in 1961, specializing in the restoration of Mercedes Benz cars and was well known for his high quality and fine craftsmanship in upholstering. John shared his knowledge over the years by teaching classes on upholstery at Lorain County Community College and Lorain County Joint Vocational School. In 1977, he moved to Amherst, living there until 2003 when he returned to live in Lorain.
John served many years as a Lorain County Sheriff's Deputy and Air Patrol Commander, and was a member and past president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 54. He was a member and director of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club Chapter 2, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, past president of the South Lorain Merchants Association, and a Colonel in the Confederate Air Force. John was also a member and past president of the Mercedes Benz Club of America, having served as the National Events Committee Chairman and as chief judge in national events. He also spoke to Gull Wing groups at the Denver MBCA Convention and many events around the country including the 100th anniversary celebration of Mercedes Benz in Pebble Beach, CA.
John was very active in the German community, and served as president of the Lorain Liedertafel and president of the German American Association of Lorain County. He was a member of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Lorain. An accomplished musician, John played the button box, drums and upright base. His musical career started in Germany playing polkas. After moving to Lorain, he formed the John Grm Band, playing for many years. He also played in the church band at St. Mary's in Vermilion.
Surviving is his wife of 9 years, Liesel (nee Feiler): sons, Chuck of Lorain, and Klaus (Mary) of Amherst; a daughter, Rose (Ronald) Betchker of Amherst; and step daughters, Lydia Whitely of Austin, TX, Liesel Wilkens of Sheffield Lake, and Theresa Hall of Dalton, GA; 7 grandchildren; a sister, Martina (John) Woelfl of Huron; a niece, Martina Ewers of Lorain, and nephew, Louis Bajuk of Seattle, WA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Grm Sr. in 1992 and Maria (nee Pecaric) Grm in 1979.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain, where funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
Born May 24, 1928 in Raka, Slovenia, he moved to Germany in 1941 where he worked for Deimler/Mercedes in Kassel. He also worked there as an ambulance EMT for the Wetter/Ruhr Fire Department. In 1960, John moved to Lorain and founded Grm Inc. and Lake Erie Upholstery in 1961, specializing in the restoration of Mercedes Benz cars and was well known for his high quality and fine craftsmanship in upholstering. John shared his knowledge over the years by teaching classes on upholstery at Lorain County Community College and Lorain County Joint Vocational School. In 1977, he moved to Amherst, living there until 2003 when he returned to live in Lorain.
John served many years as a Lorain County Sheriff's Deputy and Air Patrol Commander, and was a member and past president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 54. He was a member and director of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club Chapter 2, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, past president of the South Lorain Merchants Association, and a Colonel in the Confederate Air Force. John was also a member and past president of the Mercedes Benz Club of America, having served as the National Events Committee Chairman and as chief judge in national events. He also spoke to Gull Wing groups at the Denver MBCA Convention and many events around the country including the 100th anniversary celebration of Mercedes Benz in Pebble Beach, CA.
John was very active in the German community, and served as president of the Lorain Liedertafel and president of the German American Association of Lorain County. He was a member of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Lorain. An accomplished musician, John played the button box, drums and upright base. His musical career started in Germany playing polkas. After moving to Lorain, he formed the John Grm Band, playing for many years. He also played in the church band at St. Mary's in Vermilion.
Surviving is his wife of 9 years, Liesel (nee Feiler): sons, Chuck of Lorain, and Klaus (Mary) of Amherst; a daughter, Rose (Ronald) Betchker of Amherst; and step daughters, Lydia Whitely of Austin, TX, Liesel Wilkens of Sheffield Lake, and Theresa Hall of Dalton, GA; 7 grandchildren; a sister, Martina (John) Woelfl of Huron; a niece, Martina Ewers of Lorain, and nephew, Louis Bajuk of Seattle, WA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Grm Sr. in 1992 and Maria (nee Pecaric) Grm in 1979.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain, where funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John I. Grm Jr, please visit our flower store.
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