Robert Anthony Grinzafi

1946 - 2025

Robert Anthony Grinzafi 78 of Pocatello, passed away on July 20, 2025, after valiantly fighting lymphoma for 15 years.

Bob was born November 15, 1946, in Oak Park, Illinois to Joseph Grinzafi and Mildred Burich. He grew up in Mundelein, Illinois. He attended college at the University of Illinois Chicago and then later at Idaho State University. Bob obtained his Bachelor degree in History and two Master degrees, one in Health Ed and the other in English.

Bob served in the US Army from 1967-1970 including a tour in Vietnam. He later worked 24 years as the new hire trainer for the US Postal Service in Pocatello.

Bob's hobbies included biking, hiking, x-country skiing, camping, cooking, reading and rowing his drift boat down the Salmon and Snake Rivers.

Bob's other great love was traveling all over the world. He visited all continents except Australia. Had Australia not closed its borders during CoVid, Bob would have been there as well.

Bob and his wife, Donna Oates Perryman, were married 31 years. Their honeymoon was spent floating the Snake River in Bob's drift boat and camping along its banks for several days and nights. Bob and Donna traveled throughout the US. They also loved to watch The Big Bang Theory on TV together and rarely missed an evening of Jeopardy! And because Bob loved to cook, there was rarely any fast food in the house.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his half-brother Joseph (Joey) Louis Grinzafi, his half-sister Patricia (Patty) Eddleman and his step-daughter Susan Kay Perryman.

Bob is survived by his wife, his step-daughter Sheri (Dan) Sheehan, his step-son John (Sarah) Perryman and his step-daughter Sara Fluehe and 4 grandchildren, Shyla, Jarom, Hannah and Miles. He also has 4 bonus grandchildren Atlanta, Christian, Alex and Austin. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Gene (Maurine) Oates and John (Paul) Gallagher.

The family wishes to acknowledge the excellent care Bob was given over the past 13 years from the VA Hospital in SLC and his oncologists Dr. Halwani and Dr. Tashi who served there from the Huntsman Cancer Clinic as well as all of his nurses and other personnel who cared for him while he was there. Bob's life was extended due to the scientific research into lymphoma. He benefited from the chemo and immunotherapies that had been developed at the time of his diagnosis. We will be forever grateful to the researchers and doctors for giving Bob to us an additional 15 years.

A military plaque will be placed on Bob's beloved father-in-law's grave at Restlawn Cemetery as Bob was cremated and his ashes will eventually be scattered in Island Park where he x-country skied every winter.

The family is having a private Celebration of Life on August 23rd. Bob is greatly loved and missed.