Junior J. Grabinski

Junior J. Grabinski, 97, of La Crosse, WI, passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023. He was born in La Crosse on June 21, 1925, to John and Rose (Park) Grabinski. Junior attended Webster elementary School, Longfellow Junior High School and Central High School in La Crosse. While still in High School, Junior enlisted in the United States Army and was inducted on October 12, 1943, into the 787th Field artillery Battalion. Junior shipped to England where he fought in World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied invasion of Normandy. He married Marilyn Meyers and she preceded him in death in 2014. Following the war, he returned to La Crosse to work at Allis Chalmers, the City of La Crosse and for a brief period, as a game warden. Junior’s passion, besides that for his beloved wife Marilyn, was the outdoors. He and his buddy Sam Kile were well known in the area for trapping muskrats, beaver and turtle. He and Marilyn spent many hours fishing and he loved taking his grandsons on “Weinie walks” in the woods. Junior only thought of other people’s needs, never his own. His loving devotion and caring for his wife as she struggled with Alzheimer’s was unmatched. He was loved and admired by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his daughters Rosanne (John) Betz, Lisa (Tom) Degenhardt, four grandsons, Scott (Michelle) Sandau, Marc (Amy) Sandau, Matt (Sarah) Degenhardt, A.J. (Kelli) Degenhardt and many great grandchildren. In addition to his wife Marilyn, he was preceded in death by brothers Don Grabinski and Frank Hefti. In keeping with his wishes, private burial will take place in Oak Grove Cemetery. .