John William Groves

John William " Bill " Groves past away on December 27th, 2025. Bill was born on October 15, 1939 in Richland Center to Mildred "Milly" Alice Groves (Stout) and William Nelson Groves. Bill graduated Richland high school in 1957. He joined the Navy Reserves before graduation and afterwards was sent to the University of Oklahoma to study meteorology. He served in the Navy as a meteorologist until he retired as Senior Chief in 1985. He met and married Anna Mae Eggerding in 1960 when they were both serving in the navy at Sand Point Naval Air Station and they spent 45 years together. He then reconnected with and married his high school classmate Joanne Tyler (Carswell) on October 4th, 2008, at the Little Brown Church in Bear valley.
Bill was an athlete and was on the boxing and football teams were he excelled. He was voted most valuable player on his football team in 1956. Bill lived for all things hunting and fishing and anything outdoors. He was on the Navy pistol team, and never missed a Wisconsin deer hunting season if he was stationed anywhere in the U.S.
Bill's military service took him all over the world, many times over. Some of his active duty service history is recorded on the Richland County Veterans Memorial.He served aboard the USS Hornet and was stationed in Adak Alaska in the Aleutian Islands for an entire year from 1960 to 1961. He served many different roles while in the Navy and was assigned to the Ice Reconnaissance Unit after returning from Guam in 1969. He was involved in meteorological operations with Canadian scientists around the Artic Circle, Greenland, and Iceland, gathering weather data and information as well as discovering the occasional Soviot submarine. Bill's military career was so extensive it's hard to encompass everything he did. After he completed his schooling, he was transfer to Seattle, Washington, Adak Alaska, then to Long Beach California, then to New Jersey for "B" school and back to Seattle. He was transferred to Guam, then Virginia, followed by Washington DC, Texas, Guam again, then back to Texas where he retired and moved back home to Wisconsin.
Bill always had a passion for motorcycles and always rode a street bike, but when the family was transfered to Texas, this passion grew. He started racing dirt bikes in what were called cross country events. As a result of this, racing motocross events became a natural progression. Bill became very well known and admired not because of his racing prowess, but because of his excellent photography skills. He took fantastic action photos of everyone he knew and raced with, and shared those photos with everyone, never charging a dime. Bill was in his early 60's the last time he threw his leg over a dirt bike and raced a motocross event.
Once retired Bill moved back home where the call of woods always tugged at his soul. His family and deep roots in the region made the decision an easy one. From hunting to fishing and trapping, Bill made good use of his years out of the Navy. He kept busy helping relatives on their farm while turning into a bit of a gardener as well. Never missing a season, there was always fish and venison in the freezer.
Bill's greatest time was yet to come. He was divorced in 2005. A broken man, ready to leave his home in Wisconsin, he reconnected with a high-school classmate. Then, a transformation, a metamorphosis began. Bill Groves was a changed man and had a new purpose, a new perspective on life. He became a kinder, gentler man with more patience and compassion, because of an amazing woman, Joanne Tyler. She shortly thereafter after became Joanne Groves, where the transformation continued for 17 years.
The adventures and new life brought much joy and love to Bill, but it was the unwavering love and commitment of Joanne and her family that allowed him to thrive. Even after his diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimers, she made it possible for Bill to still experience the best that life had to offer...much love, grandchildren and great grandchildren. During his illness, Joanne and her children helped care for Bill with unwavering compassion and love. Time, energy and unselfish sacrifice by Joanne and her children, Cameron Tyler, Melody Karls, and Eric Tyler, in addition to their spouses Robin Tyler, Pat Karls and Amber Tyler, will never be forgotten, and can never be repayed.
Bill was proceeded in death by both of parents. He leaves behind his siblings Cecil and Margaret (Mulholland) Groves and Carol Wilson. His ex-wife Anna Groves and his wife and soul mate Joanne Carswell Tyler Groves. His three children Clinton John Groves, Kelly Ann Groves, and Alice Renee Groves. His nieces and nephews Mathew Groves, Jeff and Sabrina Groves, Fran and David Ewing, Molly and Don Kasten, Dale and Paula Wilson, Andrew and Jan Wilson, Dan and Beck Wilson. His many cousins within the Hasburgh family, in addition, he was given the gift of many grandchildren and great grandchildren through his bond with Joanne.
Finally, a very special and heartfelt thank you to the wonderful hospice individuals from St. Croix, who cared for Bill until the very end. Carrie, Jasmine, and Emily. Also, Jeffery Worrell, care giver from the VA and to the entire staff at Schmitt Woodland Hills in Richland Center. Thank you to everyone for the care, compassion and love you gave to Bill while making the end of his life's journey, as comfortable and as easy as possible.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring at a date to be determined. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.