John was born in Lodi Ohio, the first of five children to John W. Grey, Sr. and Louise Kenjavari Grey. He lived in Medina, OH, and attended Saint Francis Xavier Church, the start of a religious education that continued through his 1962 graduation from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.
After a two-year stint in the US Navy, John went to work for Walker Manufacturing in Racine WI. John started a long career with State Farm Insurance in 1969 as an agent in Racine, WI, before accepting a position as an Agency Manager in Sheboygan, WI.
He thrived in this position, earning the Manager of the Year award. In 1995, he retired from State Farm but soon returned to insurance as an agent specializing in life insurance with Mass Mutual until his retirement in 2008.
In 1963, John was married to Judy Gunther Grey. They had 3 children, Julie A. Grey of Minnetonka, MN, and Scottsdale, AZ, John W. Grey, III, (Sarah) of Beaver Dam, WI, and Andrew K. Grey (Linda) of Plymouth, MN. In 1984, John married Mary Beth Davis in Sheboygan. They lived in Sheboygan and Plymouth, WI, until 2011, when they moved full time to Sarasota, FL. While in Plymouth, John and Mary Beth owned a hobby farm for 19 years where many family and friends enjoyed wonderful memories.
John was an active man his whole life. Growing up, John always had a job and worked his way through college. Upon moving to Sheboygan, he joined Jaycees and quickly became president. John loved the game of golf which became the foundation of many friendships over his life.
He belonged to Pine Hills Country Club in Sheboygan for 35 years where he was president for 6 years. John became a Director for the Evans Scholarship Foundation representing Pine Hills from 1997 - 2010.
When he and Mary Beth became snowbirds, they joined Palm Aire Country Club, in Sarasota and quickly found a large group of friends. In the mid 1990's, John became interested in wood carving.
Over the years, in Plymouth and continuing in Sarasota, he created many beautiful carvings that he shared with family, friends and charities. He had a passion for fishing, hunting, and photography. For many years, he contributed nature pictures and wrote articles about Florida birds and animals for the Palm Aire newsletter. John had a "green thumb" for gardening and landscaping in Wisconsin and Florida.
John is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Mary Beth of Sarasota; his children, Julie and her two daughters, Abigail Deutz and Laura Deutz both of New York City; John III and Sarah, and their two daughters, Elizabeth Somers (Alex) of Tucson AZ; and Margaret Grey of Milwaukee; Andrew and Linda and their two children, John Michael, a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Katherine, a student at Liberty University in Virginia; his stepchildren, Karen D. Henry of Milwaukee and her three children, and Thomas P. (Patty) Schmidt of Plymouth, WI, and his four children. John is also survived by his brothers, Robert (Wendy) Grey, Leesburg, FL; Philip Grey, Akron, OH, and a sister Deborah (Udell) Spears of San Antonio, TX. His sister, Barbara Doran, and his parents preceded him in death.
John's Funeral Service will be held 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Church of the Nativity, 5900 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34207, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Western Golf Association/Evans Scholarship Foundation, 2501 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL 60026-8022 or a charity of your choice.
