John R. Grimm

John R. Grimm, 89, of Hershey, passed away at Masonic Village on February 21, 2024. He was born on August 14, 1934 in Lancaster, PA to the late Elwood S. and Mary E. (Rieker) Grimm.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, with whom he would have celebrated 64 years of marriage on June 10. He is also survived by his children: Joanne R. Grimm, John R. Grimm, II, and Jennifer R. Watson, son-in-law Michael J. Watson, beloved grandchildren; Lindsay and Matthew Grimm, and Michael, Jr., and Andrew Watson, granddogs; Asti and Gizmo, and numerous nieces, nephews; extended family; and many friends. He is predeceased by his sister, Florence Masterson.

Our dad served as blue blood in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard the U.S.C.G.C. Campbell in the North Atlantic. He then earned his BSBA from Elizabethtown College, his Masters from Bucknell University, and his Doctorate from Penn State University. He worked for Penn State as Dean of Students at the Berks and Harrisburg campuses. He then worked for Milton Hershey School as a psychologist. After retiring from Milton Hershey School, he served as the C.L.O. (chief laundry officer) at the White Rose Motel in Hershey, the business he owned with his wife Shirley for 37 years. He could always be found sitting on his bench outside the laundry room, drinking coffee and talking to the guests about the history of Hershey.

Our dad enjoyed gardening (Burpees Fordhook 242 lima beans), the weather (hurricanes and nor’easters), the stock market, history (a Jeopardy whiz), and family dinners at Hogan Grill and Devon (gin martinis, oysters Rockefeller and a rack of ribs). He loved homemade spice cake with caramel icing on his birthday, and rum cream pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Family was the most important thing in his life. He was most happy sitting on his glass porch, feeding and watching the birds, and spending time with family.

Dad, we miss you but feel so privileged to have been able to call you “dad” for 89 years.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Arline M. Hughes Caring Endowment Fund, 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022, Masonic Village Hospice, 98 Masonic Dr., Suite 101, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or Speranza Animal Rescue, www.speranzarescue.org, or Manada Conservancy, www.manada.org/donate/

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Masonic Village Hospice
Masonic Villages, Office of Gift Planning, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown PA 17022
Tel: 1-717-367-1121
Web: http://www.masonicvillages.org

Manada Conservancy
113 E. Main St., Hummesltown PA 17036

Arline M. Hughes Caring Endowment Fund,
1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown PA 17022

Speranza Animal Rescue, www.speranzarescue.org
1216 Brandt Rd., Mechanicsburg PA 17055
Web: http://www.speranzarescue.org