John passed away on February 10, 2022 near Chewelah, WA, at the age of 77.  John Frederick Grumbach was born August 6, 1944 to Ted and Bessie Grumbach in Tonasket, Washington.  When he was a year old, the family moved to Chewelah, where he spent his childhood years.  He completed his first nine grades in school at St. Mary's, graduating from Jenkins High School in 1962.

John's love for classical music was well-known, starting in high school.  Despite his inability to read a note of music, he studied the lives of classical composers and all aspects of their music in great depth, knowing the music by heart and reveling in the sound.  More recently, for a time he hosted a classical music hour on Radio Station KCHW 102.7FM in Chewelah on Sunday mornings.

After high school, John spent 2 years in the Navy, then many years in the Puget Sound and Spokane areas.  When he retired, he moved back to the Chewelah/Valley areas, where he engaged in volunteering with a passion.  He was a reading volunteer at Gess Elementary School.  He gave countless hours to the Chamber of Commerce, to the Chewelah Valley Lions Club, to the Walt Goodman Museum and other local causes.  Last summer, in particular, he was diligent about daily watering of the lovely, world famous, hanging baskets of flowers along Main Street in Chewelah.

It is clear John will be missed in the Chewelah and Valley communities, seeing the outpouring of messages of appreciation, sadness, loss, and special memories of his devotion in service and compassion to others.

He is survived by two brothers:  Bill and Dan (Pam) Grumbach; four sisters: Mary (Ron) McKenna, Helen Knapp, Karen Mattern and Rita Grumbach; brothers-in-law: Chuck Hauge and Charles Johnson and sister-in-law: Teri Grumbach.  He is preceded in death by his parents and 3 siblings, Karl, Dorothy and Betty.

In recognition of John's love for his community, a John Grumbach Memorial Account has been set up by the Chewelah Chamber of Commerce.  If you would like to make a contribution, please make check payable to Chewelah Chamber and mail to P.O. Box 94, Chewelah, WA 99109, or drop it off at WaFd Bank.