John W. Gronlund

John W. Gronlund, age 71, passed away at his home surrounded by love and reggae music on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. He was born to the late Howard and Rita (Maloney) Gronlund on February 21, 1952, in Milwaukee. John attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Oshkosh High in 1970. John married Mary Manser on February 8, 1989, on the beach in Negril, Jamaica.

Before John finished his career as a salesman, John worked as a lifeguard at the Oshkosh beaches, ran Brothers on the strip, managed the Truck Stop Restaurant, bartended at Mable Murphy’s (where he met Mary), Derksen’s and ended his career at Kitz and Pfeil.

John is survived by his loving wife, Mary (Speed); son, Jason Tuschen; brothers, Andrew (Cathy), David, and Patrick (Linda) Gronlund; sister, Mary (James) Napp; in-laws, Joseph, and Andrew (Jeff Rehfeldt) Manser, and Elizabeth (Greg) Manser-Payne as well as many nieces and nephews.

John was proud to be a founding member of the Oshkosh Rugby Club and served several years as chairman of the disciplinary committee for USA Rugby. He played for years on the Mable Murphy’s and Oblios softball teams. John loved over 40 trips to Jamaica, sitting with friends on the dock, and countless road trips with Mary, stopping at every little red square on the road map.

In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his sister, Ann Gronlund, and recently, his sister-in-law, Debbie Manser who suffered from the same type of lung cancer as John.

A service for John will be held at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes, 402 Waugoo Avenue, on Monday, October 30, 2023, at 7PM. A time of visitation will be held from 4PM until the time of service. A private burial will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Community Church Oshkosh and Oshkosh Area Humane Society. The family would like to thank all the neighbors, close friends, co-workers, and Pastor Karl who helped Mary and John deal with this difficult time.