Robert J. Grimm

Captain Robert J Grimm, 85 died Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Friends may call from 2:00- 5:00 PM Sunday, January 20 at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 Monday, January 21 at the funeral home officiated by Rev. Thomas Batsky; burial will be at Riverview Cemetery. Memorials donations (in lieu of flowers) can be made to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, the American Diabetes Association, or the St. Joseph Carousel Committee. Friends wishing to send a condolence online may do so at the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com. A native of St. Joseph, Bob was born on November 11, 1922 to John & Maude (Aber) Grimm at their home on Lake Blvd. His working career began as a teenager helping his father operate an excursion boat on the St. Joseph River. After high school Bob joined the Merchant Marine, attended training in King’s Point, New York, and served as a ship’s captain in both World War II and the Korean War. In the 1950’s he settled down in St. Joseph to raise his family. He joined the Jackson family in managing the local Coca Cola bottling company, retiring as president in 1983. Captain Grimm was actively involved in the local community. He served 40 years with the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club, including terms as President and Sergeant at Arms. He was Harbormaster for 20 years and a member of the Heritage Museum and Cultural Society and the Shoreham Village Board. After retirement, Bob spent many hours during the summer on the St. Joe piers, fishing for perch and chatting with tourists. He and his wife spent winters in Florida, where he enjoyed the warm weather, sunshine and ocean fishing with family and friends. Bob is survived by Eleanor, his wife of 58 years; three daughters, Laurie Levknecht of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Gary), Diann Grimm of Richmond, California (Dan Schwab), and Janet Grimm of Elmira, Michigan; granddaughters Jessica Levknecht of Washington DC and Adriene Levknecht of Ashville, North Carolina; and a sister Barbara Brown of Pleasanton, California.