John Griskivich
July 6, 1916 ~ January 21, 2014
FALMOUTH - John Griskivich, 97, a resident of the Island Nursing Home on Deer Isle, Maine, died January 21, 2014. He was born in Portland on July 6, 1916, a son of Gregor and Agatha Zoulick Griskivich. He graduated from Portland High School in 1935 and spent most of his life in Falmouth, Maine. As a youth, John was a caddy at the Portland Country Club where he met Governor Baxter, who gave him good advice about life and also gave him a ride home to Arcadia Street in Portland. During his high school days, John played the trumpet in the high school band and was also a member of Romano's band. During World War II, John served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, assigned to the 236th Army Air Forces, Base Unit, as an airplane armorer for B-24 aircraft and was also a carbine marksman. John supervised seven men and was in charge of seven planes. He was honored with the European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal with six Battle Stars. His term of service began in June of 1942 and he was discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant in October of 1945. John's lifelong career was in upholstery at Art Upholstery in Portland. He retired in 1978. John married the love of his life, Wanda Nowakowski on May 1, 1948. Together, they raised two children, Stan and Jane. John enjoyed doing woodworking projects with Stan. Together they built several small boats they used on Casco Bay in Stan's youth. John also helped Stan on carpentry projects throughout his life, such as building Stan's first cabinet shop in Yarmouth and Stan's home on Deer Isle. John was a member of the American Legion Anderson-Mayberry Post in Yarmouth where he served as chaplain for many years.John was predeceased by his wife Wanda on Dec. 26, 1992; his daughter Jane Peabody; his brothers, Nicholas and Peter; his sister Nadja, and granddaughter Carrie Ladd. Surviving are his son Stan and his wife Toni of Deer Isle; his granddaughters, Hope Peabody and Hattie Griskivich and his nieces Joan Gerrish and Linda Matula. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 25, 2014 at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held in the spring at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth. Donations in John's name can be made to: The Island Nursing Home, 587 No. Deer Isle Road, Deer Isle, ME 04627.Online condolences may be expressed below.
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I knew John well as I saw him every Saturday when I visited my Mom, Winnie Robbins, in the Island Nursing Home until her death. I called him John-John and he always said he was going to marry me! He was such a delight and I will always remember him. (I am Erik Robbins’s cousin.) Bonnie Benedix (Blue Hill)
– Bonnie Benedix
Dear Stan Toni – I received a note from your Father in this morning’s mail. I was happy and relieved. And, when I looked on the back and saw, “Sunshine Greetings by Toni,” I thought of how much I’d enjoyed our phone conversation what must now have been a few years ago. In fact, I was about to write back or call and let him know that he looked as if he’d not aged a bit since the last Fourth of July parade – unlike me! So I was quite shaken, though not altogether surprise, to get an email from my cousin telling me to check out the obituaries online. I’ve known your Father since I was a little girl from which time I’d see him whenever I (and probably my Mother and sister Linda) went shopping, parked behind the shop, and stopped to visit. I cannot remember a time when he was not caring, sweet, funny, honest, and welcoming. Even in more recent years when we’d talk around Christmas, how he cared so for your Mother (whom I also remember) and your sister. My life is certainly better for having known him and the world a better place for his having been it. May God be with him and with you.
– Harriet Caplan
Stan and Toni, so sorry to hear from John’s passing. I enjoyed chatting with him at the Island Nursing Home. We always shared good conversation filled with laughter.
– Jane Robbins-Teel