John Russell Gruendyke

John R. Gruendyke, 82, of Whittier, was promoted to Glory on September 20, 2016. His immediate family members include his wife, Verna (nee Billard) of Whittier, son, Randall (Nancy) of Whittier, sister, Catherine (Kenneth) Wheeler of Arlington, TX, eight grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott.



Born in Los Angeles, John was raised in Glendale where he attended Hoover High School. Upon graduating from Hoover, John was admitted to the University of Redlands where he was a member of the football and swim teams, as well as the Kappa Sigma Sigma fraternity. At Redlands John also met his wife, Verna, to whom he was married for fifty-nine years. Following military service (Navy and Army), John earned a M.A. from Cal State Los Angeles. At this time, he began a fifty year teaching career during which he served at Eastmont Junior High in Montebello, La Palma Junior High in La Palma, Western High School in Anaheim, Cypress High School in Cypress and Biola University in La Mirada. For many years John was a CIF water polo referee in and around Orange County. He employed his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law, to help coach the Cypress High Mock Trial team to two California State Championships (1988 and 1991). At Biola, John served as an adjunct professor in the Education and History Departments.



John was an active member of Granada Heights Friends Church in La Mirada. Since 1959 he served in a variety of roles including elder, Bible teacher and youth leader. In recent years John was an organizer of Encore, a monthly gathering for senior adults as well as the co-leader of Stronghearts, Granadas cancer support group. At nearby Imperial Healthcare Center, where Johns wife, Verna, resides, he was known as The Cookie Man, regularly distributing cookies as well as offering words of comfort and prayer to the residents.



Sixty years ago, Johns life was changed upon hearing the verse, There isno condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). It was in this truth that he placed his faith and future. In recent years, John greatly relied on the words, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame (Romans 5:3-5). To the very end, Johns faith in Christ was an encouragement to his entire family. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by them.



A public memorial service is scheduled for Monday, October 10, 2016, at 11 a.m., Granada Heights Friends Church, 11818 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, CA. A private interment is scheduled to take place at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations:



City of Hope

https://secure3.convio.net/coh/site/Donation2;jsessionid=41AD0D581802944505CA23A82998F9EB.app30103b?df_id=1800&1800.donation=form1&_ga=1.202885329.1700871585.1472664563



Gogo Grandmothers

http://www.gogograndmothers.com/General-DonationGogoGrandmothers