Obituary of Michael Grodi

On December 31, 1944, Donald Grodi and Mary (DeBruyne) Grodi welcomed their fourth child Michael Maurice Grodi into this world. Mike, as he is better known, left us on December 22, 2015 at the age of 70. Mike spent his younger years growing up in Erie spending lots of time on his Aunt and Uncle's farm along with his siblings Jim, Diane (Welch), Dennis, and David. Mike attended St. Joseph grade school in Erie where his inability to follow rules allowed him to spend much quality time standing by the statue of St. Joseph, which was Fr. Lambert-LaVoy's favorite punishment for misbehavior. He often said that he and St. Joseph become great friends over the years. After the death of his mother in 1958, Mike and his three brothers went to live in Toledo with his father and step-mother, Eleanor (Fletcher). From their marriage Mike acquired five more siblings, Donna (Pawlak), Arthur (Art), Robert, Rita (Balk), and Terry. At the age of eighteen, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp (1963-67) where he honorably served 2 tours in Vietnam and earned the Good Conduct Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Marksman Badge .45 Pistol, Expert Badge M-14 Rifle, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars. On August 26, 1967 Mike married Vickie (Six). From their marriage they had four children, Michele (Gary) Whitt of Brighton, Mary Janelle (Kevin) Low of Ida, Michael (Jodi) Grodi of Erie, and Lisa Grodi of Tomah, WI. In 1970 he joined the Army National Guard. In 1991, while still serving in the guard, Mike volunteered, and was called to serve in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, where he served as a Truck Master in Iraq. Once home, he continued with the guard and was called to active duty yet again in 2001 where he served at the Pentagon, with the Crisis Action Cell, during Operation Noble Eagle. Mike was honorably discharged in May 2003 after proudly serving his country for thirty-seven years. On September 9, 2000, Mike married Sharon (Uhrman) Grodi. She brought to this marriage children Scott Grodi of Erie and Christene Grodi of Monroe, who Mike loved as his own children. Mike was intelligent, charismatic, and had a heart for adventure. After returning from Vietnam Mike was a successful life insurance salesman in California. He worked at the Nike Army Base in Newport as a K-9 training specialist, and also at Consumer Power Plant in Erie. Mike received his journeyman's card out of local 671 Plumbers & Pipefitters, where he helped in the construction of Fermi Nuclear Power Plant. Mike was also a very successful businessman and owned/operated Mike's Stop & Go Portable Toilets and Grodi's Septic Tank Cleaning LLC, until he was forced to retire in May 2003 after an accident. Mike always loved to fly and earned his private pilot's license. He could often be seen flying his bright yellow ultra-lite over Erie. Mike was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Erie, VFW Post 3925, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 142 in Monroe, American Legion Post 193 in Luna Pier, Plumber & Pipefitters local 671, American Buick Club, and EAA Air Venture. He served on the Erie Mason School Board for many years, and also on the Township Board in Erie. Mike was a Reserve Officer for the Monroe Country Sherriff's Department, and a volunteer police officer with the Erie and Luna Pier Police Departments. He was very active in and enjoyed politics, and loved to serve his community in any way he could. Mike was a SUPER HERO! In addition to his wife and children, Mike is survived by his grandchildren: Mary, Zachary, Madison, and Aidan Whitt, Devon, Kalim, and Quintin Low, Michael (Mikey), Chloe, Rylee, Lily Grodi, and Declan Marino as well as his Aunt Bessie Grodi of Erie, who he considered a second mother, and his Uncle Fred DeBruyne of New Baltimore. Mike was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Mary Grodi and step-mother Eleanor, grandparents Cornelius and Gertrude Grodi and Camiel and Cordula DeBruyne, siblings Dewayne, Dennis, Rita, and Terry, and grandson Tyler McCormick. Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 8:00pm, Monday, December 28, 2015 and from 10:00am until 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway (734) 241-7070. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3925 and Vietnam Veterans of American Post 142 will provide honors at 7:00pm on Monday. A Celebration of His Life will take place at 12:00pm, Tuesday also at Merkle's with Reverend David Koch officiating. Procession will follow to Erie Union Cemetery for burial where graveside services will be under the auspices of the VFW Post 3925. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church in Erie, VFW Post 3925, VVA 142, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.merklefs.com and then selecting the Online Tributes page.