After reading all the beautiful comments left by Mr. Grimm's family, I want to send my deepest sympathies.  Your husband, father, grandfather, friend was my first boss at BGE 35 years ago in the old Electric Test Dept.  He was a great first boss to have.  Someone to show me the ropes, so to speak.  He was heavily involved with the design/build of the new Rutherford Business Center near Security; he did a great job with that huge project!  I always think of him as Mr. Grimm... back then you didn't call your boss by thier first names!  And I do remember he loved his family first and then music, esp. the marching bands.  Some of our unit meetings would be "band" related :)
Again, my deepest sympathies to each of his beloved family members...

I miss hearing your happy greeting when I call. I love you and miss you.

Tom's Eulogy:

My Dad.  Wow!  Where do you go beyond just saying those words – My Dad. 
 
Yesterday and today I was reminded of how blessed we are to have so many of my parents' relatives and friends, my family's friends, and my dear friends and co-workers  -- blessed to have so many that came to visit, called, or send condolences to support us all.  How blessed I am to be the son of John and Marge Grimm.

Everyone who ever knew my Dad always leads off describing my Dad as a great guy.  A good man.  A great man.  A man with incredible generosity.  Always welcoming no matter what.  

There was that great “Helloooo” when he answered the phone like he knew who was calling --- but --- he did not have Caller-ID.  

Or, the “Helloooo” when you rang the doorbell to our home.  You could have been selling vacuum cleaners at the door and you still got the same “Helloooo” with a big smile as you were welcomed.  

So as a kid and as I grew up, my Dad became the best man in my eyes.

When I was young I wanted to be known to others with a reputation just like my Dad was known to others.   A man known for his integrity.  A man admired by his coworkers.  A man who stood by his word.  If Dad said he would do something, he did it.   

A man known for his leadership ability to organize, to rally people, and then get things done and to do it right the first time… and with class.   At some point I realized there was no possible way I could come close to being like my Dad.

As I grew up, I was amazed at the number of people that would say – “Grimm? Are you John Grimm's son?”  Back then, there weren't that many Grimms in the Baltimore area.  They would say, “I know a John Grimm from _____________.”  You can fill in the blanks:

“John Grimm – I went to Poly with a John Grimm.  He directed the band.  Is that the same Johnny Grimm?”

“John Grimm – is that the John Grimm from St. Michael's Drum Corps?  That Johnny Grimm?”

“John Grimm – is that the John Grimm who works at BG&E?  I work with him.”  Or, the Engineering Pipeline.  Or Toastmasters. Or the Masonic Lodge.  “What a great Dad you have.”

“John Grimm – is that the John Grimm who……..”

and on and on it would go.  

I was simply amazed by the fact that my Dad knew so many people.  As I got older, I was even more amazed as I began to realize that I never heard a single bad thing about my Dad.   Just that people lit up when they would inquire if I was related to Johnny Grimm.

That's him.  Yep, the same Johnny Grimm who led the Baltimore Polytechnic High School Bands.

The same Johnny Grimm that led the St. Michael's Drum and Bugle Corps in Baltimore.  His Drum Major, Mr. Frank Dorbert is with us today and will be a pall bearer.  Mr. and Mrs. Dorbert, and others from the Drum Corps Gang, have been faithful and wonderful friends all of these years!!  Mr. Dorbert was instrumental in the nomination and induction of my father into the Drum and Bugle Corps Hall of Fame.

Yes, it's the same Johnny Grimm that had several glee clubs in Baltimore – especially the glee club with Eastern and Western high school students where he met his bride Margaret Sonnemen who to this day continues to remind us of her “German” heritage.  My description would be a “Stubborn” heritage.  Dad chased her for 5 years until they were married on October 15, 1949 some sixty-two plus years ago!  Thanks for saying yes, Mom!

Yep, it's the same Johnny Grimm who had a full “big band” dance band in Baltimore – called Johnny's Band.

Yes, the same John Grimm that was the choir director and a church director at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Catonsville. To this day he has the dearest friends and traveling partners such as the Smiths, the Denneys, the Fords, the Holloways and so many more that I am probably forgetting.  The men are now golfing together on God's golf course.

Are you hearing a trend here – music – that's my Dad.  Even on the Fourth of July my Dad had the Stars and Stripes blasting from the old tube-based stereo out the front living room windows and opened doors for all to hear.  It became a neighborhood tradition.  Neighbors could set their clocks that day.

Well, Dad was as a Dad should be in many other ways.  

Every Christmas, beyond the locked door to keep Paul and me out, down in a small basement in a row house on Grandville Road in Edmonson Heights, Dad and Pop Pop Sonneman and Uncle Gene or others would stay up for several nights putting together a “Christmas Garden” model train layout.  The trains had to be running for us the first thing on Christmas morning.  Each of us getting separate, yet equal trains and other train garden features because he knew we might fight over things as some siblings may do.  But of course Paul and I never fought – did we?  Therefore, everything was always equal - then and now.

Dad was a leader in the Edmonson Heights Little League EDRECO when we lived in what is now called the Heights.  

He was an active Dad in Boy Scouts when we had a church troop and then helped me continue scouts when we moved out to Mt. Hebron.   

In addition to his U.S. Army honorable discharge in 1945, Dad was also Paul's and my Executive Officer, Lieutenant John Grimm, who served the youth of Baltimore for Friday muster with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps at the Fort McHenry Naval Reserve Center.  His Army and his Drum and Bugle Corps experiences were used to teach the Corps their rifle drills that eventually led to a few competitive awards.   On a recent visit to the Naval Reserve Center just a few years ago, the Master Chief Petty Officer still remembered my Dad.

Things got sticky one year when Dad began a Drum and Bugle Corps style band-front for our Mount Hebron High School Marching Unit.  He started a new organization that was made up of high school girls and an organization that did not require try-outs in order to join.  We called the unit the Cavaliers named after the style of a famous Drum and Bugle Corps that many band members saw at a competition in Baltimore that my Dad arranged for us to attend.  It included a flag unit and a rifle drill team.  Funny, that first year the girl's rifle team ended up in the same competition as the Cadet Corps since my Dad taught both groups.  He thought it would be great if the competition included the girls.  The girls ended up beating the Cadets.   

In the 1970s, the Cavaliers were the first band-front of its kind in Howard County – possibly the first high school in the state with such a large band-front.  The entire Marching Unit was almost a city block long!  Dad choreographed all of the halftime shows for the entire Marching Unit for several years and we won consecutive state-wide awards for our shows.  Each home game's show had to be different.   That was a lot of work and dedication.  But Dad thrived on it.  Since then, many Maryland high schools today have copied the Cavalier concept.  But credit goes to my Dad who made it come alive and paved the way for many young women today to have something to aspire to beyond the elite dance and cheerleader teams that were typical of the time.  

Dad was also a wonderful grandfather and truly a great grandfather.  He loves all of his girls.  He welcomed my wife MaryLou and my first daughter Nicole into the family with open arms.  My Mom and Dad did everything they could to support all of the granddaughters (my Nicole, Leandra, Brittany and Paul's Amanda and Victoria) by going to ballet recitals, or plays, or band, or chorus, or whatever they were into.    My parents were there.   They would send them spending money as each earned their undergraduate degrees.  My Dad would light up when the granddaughters and great-granddaughters came in the door.  Every picture that came via email he printed so proudly for my Mom to see.  

And, Dad was most certainly always there for Mom.  I remember once I asked Dad who he thought was the leader of the household.  No hesitation – “it's your Mother of course”.  Dad so loved Mom.  Like no other love on this earth.  To the very end, everything was about what Mom wanted.  

Recently I witnessed a tear-jerking moment that was rare for my eyes, yet also seen by his care giving angels on several occasions.  When Dad and Mom got into bed one night and finally adjusted themselves under the covers, Dad rolled over to hug Mom and she hugged him and he said “Hi Sweetie” as he always called her – “I love you”.  She would say “I love you too” and then they would kiss and say good night as I closed the door to their bedroom.   They did this right up until my last night with them.  How do you beat that for a role model of true everlasting love.

And we come right back to my Dad and my most fond memory.  In 1983, I had a choice to make.   I had to choose a best man for my wedding.  Well, I looked around at all my buddies.  Any one of them could have been my best man at my wedding.  Greg Walther, my high school best bud and neighbor whom I did just about everything with and was like my second brother.  Greg would have been the most logical choice by all accounts.    I had my other high school friends who would have stood up for me and did so for many years.   But, my choice came quickly to me – I chose My Dad as my best man because he was in fact the Best Man.

I Love You Dad!

Dad, we miss you so very much. Our hearts have not accepted that you have passed on. It will seem strange not to see your big warm smile and feel your strong hug when we arrive at your door. When you asked how we were, you genuinely wanted to know, and would listen intently to any and all of our whining! Yet when we asked how you were, you would just say, "No use complaining," and get us back to talking about our own lives again.   We sorely miss you, although we always feel your presence when we are with mom. You loved her dearly and everyone who knew you knew of that steadfast devotion. You put her happiness above everything and anything else. I will always remember the little slips of paper you passed out to all of us with her contact information when she was in Kernan, and also when she was in Encore. You tried your best to never let her feel lonely. You showed the utmost respect for her, and for all of us, and always put her and other's needs ahead of your own.  That's my definition of a true gentleman. You set an example, through your character, and your warmth and kindness. You taught us that who you are inside is far more important than what you own or what title you may have. You were generous, and good and never let an occasion to compliment someone slip by. I doubt that you left this world with any regrets.  I personally have one regret where you are concerned. I wish I had told you all these things while you were still with us. I hope you knew.
With love,
MaryLou

Brittany's Eulogy (Representing John Grimm's granddaughters on Tom's side) 

"Somebody asked me this morning how I am holding up and all I could think to reply was, 'By george, I can't complain'. Our Pop-pop was a very stoic man and no matter how crummy he was feeling in his last few weeks, he never wanted to burden us with his troubles. Instead, he loved watching his YouTube videos of choral and big band performances and sharing them with us when we would visit. He not only taught us about marching band formations, but he showed us by example the kind of man my sisters, cousins and I should hold out for. He completely devoted himself to Grandmom and their marriage has been an inspiration to each of us. He took great care of Grandmom, but he also took great care of his granddaughters too... when he sent us pocket money every month we were in college with special instructions to spend it on something fun. Or when he surprised us with the coveted $5 Easter egg every year and treated us to ALL of those dinners at Crab Shanty. He just wanted to make sure that everyone around him was taken care of always.
I came across a poem that I have tweaked a little bit to relate to our Pop-pop...
'If we could choose from all the Pop-pops in the world,
there's no doubt, we would still choose you. Your eyes that shined with a touch of mischief, your laugh that always made us smile... your hands that were ready to reach out to us, your heart that was always big enough to welcome us...  the time you spent with us, the stories you shared with us... If we could choose from all the Pop-pops in the world, there's no doubt , we would still choose you.'
And Pop-pop, we will always say a prayer to let you know we got home safely. We love you so much. Thank you."

Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of John.My Mother{Mary Gilbert) always spoke fondly of John and Marge.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Dear Marge and Family. Cliff and I had some wonderful visits with you  and John both at your home and at Heartlands. My thoughts will surely be with you all at this diffiult time. Blessings and love.Shirley Bossom

Marge, Tom, Paul and all,

Those of us on the Jones side are all saddened to hear about John's passing.  Truly, a caring, genuine person, and a great family man.  My memories of him and your family are all good ones.  Whenever I think of John, in my mind's eye he's either smiling or laughing.  

Marge, - our prayers are with you and all your family.  

Tom and Paul - We are really fortunate to have grown up in the time that we did, and in families with really super parents as role models.  

God Bless you all.........

Mike Jones

May you rest in eternal peace, Uncle Johnny, and be reunited with your loved ones until your beloved Marge joins you.   We all will watch over her, love and care for her in your absence, as well as keep your memory alive.

May you rest in eternal peace, Uncle Johnny, and be reunited with your loved ones until your beloved Marge joins you.   We all will watch over her, love and care for her in your absence, as well as keep your memory alive.                        Joan

OBITUARIO

John Johnny Alexander Grimm

5 septiembre, 1925 – 9 julio, 2012

Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park

Muestre su apoyo

Comparta Un Recuerdo

Comparta
Un Obituario

Obtenga actualizaciones

Servicios