John William Grubb

John W. Grubb, of Urbandale, IA, passed away on March 9, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born September 28, 1946, in Des Moines, Iowa, to John R. and Zelda Grubb, John was a proud graduate of Valley High School and Parsons College. Following his education and service in the National Guard, he worked alongside his father and his cousin Stephen, where he developed a lifelong passion for land development and home building.

John cherished 32 years of love and laughter with his wife, Kimberly. Together, they built a life defined by adventure and community, whether they were seeking live music, discovering great restaurants, or supporting various charities. They also found joy in their time spent at the Lake of the Ozarks, their home in Arizona, and traveling throughout the Caribbean.

An animal lover, John found great companionship in his dogs, Murphy and Cooper. However, music remained his greatest hobby and joy. A chance meeting in Florida with a local musician turned into a lifelong friendship, a music publishing company based in Nashville, and countless hours singing, writing songs, and playing guitar. In recent years, John found his greatest happiness in the "simple things" with Kim and his children-sharing meals, stories, memories, and a love for great movies.

Known affectionately as "Johnny," he had a rare gift for leaving everyone he met with a big smile. His loving personality was the shining star of his family, and while his light will be deeply missed, it lives on through all who loved him.

Survivors & Services John is survived by his wife, Kim; his kids, Eric (Lacey) of Clive, IA, Corrie Richards (Justin) of Clive, IA, Andrew (Ruth) of San Diego, CA, and his step-daughter, Jenna Sharaby (Danny) of Phoenix, AZ; and nine grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the Honor Health Osborne ICU for their compassionate care in John's final moments.

• Memorial Service: Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:00 am at Messinger Indian School Mortuary, Arizona.

• Celebration of Life: A gathering will be held in Des Moines, IA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blank Children's Hospital Des Moines or the Arizona Humane Society.