John Grabowski

It is with overwhelming sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Johnny. On Wednesday morning, August 19th, after an alert, good day, he ran home to his Heavenly Father with Therese and Andrea by his side.

John Francis was born in South Bend, Indiana, on April 28th, 1955. He was the second of 6 children born to Edward and Marjorie Grabowski. Ed was an engineer and Marge a nurse; the couple hailed from a strong Polish community in Manistee, Michigan.

As a child, Johnny enjoyed watching the planes take off from the nearby airport with his older sister and younger brothers. He once appeared in a local edition of the children’s TV show Romper Room, singing “bend and stretch, reach for the stars!”

This sentiment proved apparent as Johnny grew older and the family relocated to West Bloomfield. His first job was at Tam O’Shanter golf course, becoming #1 caddy, but he needed to reach for something beyond the suburbs. “Johnny Jump-Jump” found his way toward two stars: the wilderness, and running. He excelled in the latter with brother Eddie, preferring the endurance of cross country to the “around and around in circles” of track, telling local reporters “the longer the better.”

Meanwhile, Tolkien’s Middle Earth stories inspired Johnny, his brothers, and friends to build elaborate forts in nearby forests. During these years, Johnny became the moral compass and leader. He spearheaded a scheme to get out of suburbia and homestead in the remote Omineca Mountains of British Columbia. While the teens' escape attempt didn’t succeed, the dream was realized when Johnny bought land in southwestern Quebec in February 1975. It was in “the Bush” that he built and lived in a log house with chums and brother Jim, learnt to be the camp mechanic, and began mixing French into his vocabulary. “The Bush” stayed close to Johnny’s heart as he moved around the country to wherever family or friends needed him, always finding a marathon to run along the way.

His running career was an impressive one, from being sponsored by Adidas and the Footstop Team with brother Eddie, to multiple Boston Marathons, coming in 50th in 1976. Even though he once ran a 2:18 marathon, he would never think to boast. His running motto was “you’re only as good as your next race.” Running for him was meditation, freedom, and innate nature.

Whether driving 9 hours to replace brother Gerard’s drive shaft along US2, moving long distance to support brother Tom during a hard time, or driving cross-country twice to help a friend, Johnny was there. He became much in demand as a mobile mechanic, especially when most of the family migrated back to Marge and Ed’s home region of northwest Michigan. Having lived with each brother, Johnny bought land of his own in Benzie County. It soon filled with local injured vehicles, the repair of which he called play instead of work. His uniform was running shoes and blue jeans, his ride a Ford F-150 pickup truck, and his sustenance peanut butter sandwiches, drop-ins to family dinners, and an iconic love of black coffee with honey in a pint jar.

In June 1994, Therese Raczkowski, a Waldorf early childhood teacher from the Detroit area, arrived on Johnny’s property to drop off her friend’s car. From the moment they met, there was a quiet, strong current of connection between Johnny and Therese. Their first date was a hike in February 1995 at Otter Creek trailhead, and by summer they were engaged. They lived in a tipi on what was now their shared land for the summer as they renovated part of the pole barn into a small apartment, also living in Frankfort during its construction. On June 22nd, 1996, Therese and Johnny were married at the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive North Bar Overlook, and enjoyed a long honeymoon in British Columbia.

The couple welcomed Andrea Lianne on March 2nd, 1998. From the moment of her birth in their home, Johnny was a deeply engaged and playful Papa, showing his daughter the wonders of stories and the outdoors. He was dedicated to supporting his family—a steady presence as they sought Waldorf schools for Therese’s employment and Andrea’s education, and later in homeschooling. After a brief time in Massachusetts, they returned to the Great Lakes to make their home in a small log house surrounded by woods and a creek in Honor. Another sojourn East saw Johnny fixing trucks for a Vermont quarry. The trio landed in the Long Lake area of Traverse City in 2007. No matter the locale, Johnny and Therese found joy in parenting together, sharing their value of nature, and the many tender and funny moments of daily life that make a marriage. “Papa Johnny” taught his daughter to identify trees, ride a bike, and speak French phrases; and was a ready collaborator in countless imaginative games, often naming his character “Plucky.”

An avid reader from childhood, Johnny devoured Tom Robbins, astronomy textbooks, rereads of lifelong favorite Tolkien, and whatever novel Andrea had just finished. He enjoyed classic rock, with Pink Floyd, The Who, and The Moody Blues as go-to tunes. Johnny’s hidden talents as an actor came to life in Andrea’s amateur films, with many roles including the Scarecrow of Oz, Sherlock Holmes, and Tsar Nicholas Romanov. Johnny worked intermittently at Taghon’s Garage in Empire before returning to self-employment under the name “Repair in Motion” in 2012. He always found time to call his parents or share his skills with his niece, but could never be bothered to follow the rules of society, “climbing the hill in his own way,” and ending each day at the supper table with his best friend and their girl.

He had a knack for witty observations and effortless optimism, which translated well to treasure hunt clues he crafted for Andrea’s birthdays. Many a family gathering saw Johnny disappearing from the crowd only to be found hunched under the hood of someone’s car, making sure all was well. His disposition was patient and logical as he faced complex challenges and projects. It seemed the more challenging the task, the more quietly confident he became. A famed protocol for repair was to run from his home to yours with a 10mm socket wrench and other tools he deemed essential—often not bothering to change out of his steel-toed workbooks.

In 2014, the family began caring for a newborn neighbor, Robyn. As she grew, Johnny enriched her life with his easy playfulness and calm, and she brought the same to him as he aged. Johnny still found joy in wheels and movement on bike rides in the early years of his frontotemporal dementia, which was initially diagnosed in late 2018. While many challenges came with this disease, he maintained a deep recognition of his family and an awareness of the world around him, even with very little ability to speak. His humility, kindness, and integrity was evident to all he encountered at Grand Traverse Pavilions, where he spent his last two and a half years. Johnny’s best days in care were when Therese and Andrea rolled him around the beautiful grounds, and when visitors joined their brother, uncle, or friend.

Johnny was deeply loved and will be dearly missed. Carrying on his memory are Therese and Andrea; his brothers Eddie (Linda), Jim (Kristin), Gerard (Jan), and Tom, sister Nancy; his many nieces and nephews; and friends old and new. We like to imagine Johnny singing Pink Floyd’s “The Gnome” with his parents Marge and Ed, in-laws Hava Jean and Don, and sister-in-law Ashley.

In honor of Johnny, go outside!

Or, make a donation to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at www.theaftd.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/

Celebration of life for Johnny will be on Sunday, October 4th

Gilbert Lodge at Twin Lakes Park, Traverse City

3-6pm—visiting, service, and meal (service begins at 3:30)

6-8pm—bonfire with stories of Johnny

Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to share your thoughts and more.