Grover John

John Douglas Grover was born in Lansing, Michigan to Milton Alonzo and Helen Ruth Grover.  He attended  Eastern High School in Lansing, graduating in 1939.  He then worked for REO Motors and began his undergraduate studies in Forestry at Michigan State College (now University).   After World War Two began, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving with the ACORN 47 unit near Puerto Princessa, Palawan, Philippine Islands.  He received an honorable discharge in April, 1946. After the war, John returned to his study of Forestry at Michigan State, completing his Bachelor's Degree in 1948.  He found a summer position with the U.S. Forest Service, working on the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming.  That turned into his way of life for the next 28 years. While with the Forest Service, John worked on the Medicine Bow, Nebraska, Pike – San Isabel, Grand Mesa – Uncompahgre and Routt National Forests.  He spent many summers throughout the western U.S. fighting forest fires. In 1953, he met Alice Bernadine Larson of Douglas Wyoming.  They were married in September and spent nearly 55 wonderful years together. After retiring from the Forest Service in Steamboat Springs, Colorado at the end of 1976, John stayed busy for the next ten years, working at various positions including lift operator for the Steamboat Ski Area, greens keeper for the Steamboat Golf Club, making furniture at Ski Country Oak and maintaining the school buildings for the Steamboat School District. In 1991, John and Alice moved to Fort Collins, CO. to escape the deep winter snows of Steamboat Springs, their home since 1964.  They both enjoyed travelling around the western and southern states with Alice's sister Margaret and her husband John W. "Spider" Webb, aboard Spider's custom van. In 1998, John was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. That disease stabilized about a year later.  In 2006, John fell and broke his hip.  After hip replacement and a three month recuperation, he was able to return home for the remainder of his life. John loved being outdoors.  He knew he was going to be a forester from the time he was a young boy.  He enjoyed fly fishing, hiking, golf, bowling and alpine skiing.  He was secretary of the bowling leagues in Steamboat Springs, a member of the Steamboat Golf Club, directed the early years of the Buddy Werner League youth ski racing program, a long time member of the Lion's Club and spent many years as a volunteer with the National Ski Patrol. John was preceded in death by his parents and by one son, Steven.  He is survived by his wife, Alice and son Robert, both of Fort Collins, Colorado and his sister JoAnne and her husband Sverre Olsen of Oregon.  His warm smile and quick wit will be deeply missed by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday (August 29th) at Shelter #2 at Rolland Moore Park.  Military honors will be performed by the Ft. Collins All Veterans Honor Guard. The family requests that any memorial contributions be made in John's name to:   The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or The U.S. Forest Service Memorial Grove fund, c/o Goes Funeral Care.