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James Grotjan Obituary
He was born to Laura (Prentice) Grotjan and Randy Grotjan on Sept. 23, 1991, in Charleston, S.C. After graduation from Bacon Academy in 2010, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a member of the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C., after tours in South Korea and England.
Tyler was an exceptional one of a kind young man who had an infectious smile and witty sense of humor. The only thing that Ty loved more than his country and his dogs was his wife and family members. Known as the class clown, he had few serious moments but would go out of his way to do anything for anyone. He had a way of making you laugh and smile and forget your problems, if just for a little while.
James is survived by his wife Taylor Faye Grotjan of Dudley, N.C.; father and stepmother Randy and Ali Grotjan of Colchester; mother and stepfather Laura L. Prentice and Garret Kusman of Waterford; siblings Troy Prentice of Lisbon, N.H., Tori, Brandy, and Mary Grotjan of Colchester, Garret and Kylee Kusma of Waterford, his youngest sister, Grace Grotjan; and his paternal grandparents, Alvin and Karen Grotjan.
He was predeceased by his beloved grandmother Norma Ann Lockwood.
The funeral procession will depart at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, from Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London, and proceed to Jordan Cemetery, Boston Post Road in Waterford, where there will be a graveside service beginning at 11 a.m. After the funeral, family and friends are invited to the Waterford VFW to share stories and celebrate Tyler's life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Landstuhl Fisher Houses at www.fisherhouse-landstuhl.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Grotjan
Sponsored by Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home.
Davi Lima
June 21, 2024
I was stationed with him at Lakenheath. we were in CE but different workplace. We got to deploy together to Al Udeid, Qatar. He was an great dude when ever we had any interaction. You left a great impression on anyone that crossed paths with you.
Donna DeCosta
July 19, 2022
Hello again Tyler and this time it´s been a minute... so much loss has happened since you left us... so many more people dear to my heart to include my beloved Stepdaughter Lynelle (Nell) and it has changed me so much I sometimes don´t feel like I will ever be me again :( I know I made some pretty serious promises to you Ty, to forever hold your Mom up when she is falling and I feel so bad that I haven´t done more but somewhere in all these lost lives I have lost my ability to practically even thrive. I feel like I´ve become a machine just drifting through each day structured strictly so I never have time to stop or else I think and I hurt and I breakdown and I just can´t do that. I have to be a Mom and a Wife and it feels like my own war I live now to fight to smile or laugh. I talk to your Mom and she for sure is the one who understands where my head is and even though she understands I still feel horrible that I can´t make anything better for her :( I Love You & Miss You So So Very Much Tyler and your Mom is Truly Broken without you... I hope you are still above watching over all of us and wish for you to send us a sign that your here... just a moment of peace from you would lighten everything if even for one second we will be able to look up and smile. Until we meet again Ty....Fly Free with the Angels <3
Donna DeCosta
July 19, 2020
We Miss and Love You So Very Much Ty.... there is never a day that goes by you arent thought of and I know for your Mother that life is a struggle deeper and deeper each passing day since you left this earth on a new journey to be a hero from above. Please always watch over your Mom and send her the strength to live and breathe without you here Ty. You are Truly Missed and Deeply Loved and Forever in Our Hearts Love Auntie Donna ❤
ELLEN HOAA
August 17, 2018
MY SINCERE CONDOLENCS I SEND TO YOU. PRAYERS FOR FAMILY FOR PEACE. I AM A BLUE STAR MOM SO MY HEAT IHEAVY T HEAR OF THE DETH OF TYLER
I AM SENDING SOME CARDS TO LIN CGEE TO SEND YOU IFYOU FEEL YOU WANT TO BE IN TOUCH WITH ME SHE HAS MY ADDRESS.
gOD BLESS
Donna Leonard
August 1, 2018
Each time I light a candle...
Each time a Promise True...
Each time I light a candle...
I will Forever think of You
Love Auntie Donna xo
Ray Gabriel, CAPT, USN (retired)
July 28, 2018
Randy,
So sorry for the loss of your Son.
Prayers and Godspeed.
Nicole
July 26, 2018
Thank you for your service. It takes an incredible person to be so selfless and dedicated.
July 26, 2018
I am very sorry for your loss.
Bailee Leonard
July 25, 2018
Fly Free with the angels sweet cousin I love you Ty. you will forever be missed and will forever be on my mind...
Bailee Leonard
July 25, 2018
Tyler,
I will always have a memory of you throwing Kylee and I around the room. I will forever miss that. You were and still are the strongest and bravest person I've ever known. Fly free with the angels Tyler. I love you my sweet cousin
Auntie Laura and the rest of our family....
I love you all so much and will always be here for you, during this hard time and any hard time after. I love you all so very much
Love Bailee Rose xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Each time I light a candle...
Each time a Promise True...
Each I light a candle...
I will Forever think of You
Love Auntie Donna xo
Official Airman
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Ty's mini me Lil' G
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
A Mothers Love right here...
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Hubby & Wife and their Beloved Furbabies
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Mary with her big brother on his Wedding day
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Minion Sillyness
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Soldiers & True Friends
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Uncle & Auntie spending time with their little niece Kylee
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Handsome Ty with his Daddy
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Bittersweet Love between and Uncle and His Niece
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Husband & Wife time
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Lil' G & Kylee running into the arms of their Hero Big Brother Ty
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Precious Lil' G getting big brother time xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Graduation day with His Momma and StepDad Big G
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Tori with her Big Brother before Prom
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Soulmates & Siblings Special Memories
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Loving Son xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Tyler and His Baby Sister Brandy Goofing off
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
He Loved being an Uncle
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Tyler's #1 Fan... His youngest brother Lil' G
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Graduation with the Grotjan side
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
More Brae time...
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Being one of the dogs lol!
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
With Family and Friends Celebrating His Grama's Memory
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Ty Loved Him So Niece time with baby Braelynn
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Beloved Air Force Soldier
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Hangin' with His Pals
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
More Sibling time together
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Ty with his Big Brother Troy xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
One True Hero
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Sibling Love xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
The Gypsy Twins with their Momma
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Posin' in his gear
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Momma's Boy
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Doggy Facetime
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
All together xo
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Training Hard
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Goofin' Around
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Part of the gang
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Infectious Smile
Donna Leonard
July 25, 2018
Fly Free with the Angels Tyler... Your Sweet, Heroic, Selfless and Loving Soul will never be forgotten. It will now live on in the Hearts of all of us xo. You Truly were so Loved Ty... The amount of support the world has reached out and given to your Family is beyond measure! So so many hearts were shattered the day you left us . My promise to you... I will always be there for your Family to Love them, to hold them up on days they are broken, to try to bring them Joy and Peace and to Listen always to their memories of you Forever xo. As you know your mother is my Best Friend... Seeing her so Shattered over losing you has cut deep into my Soul She Truly is my Soul Sister...we have been through so many things together, losing our Father's, your Grama and You Ty.... too too much. I know she will never get over this, so I will remain along her side throughout each day she cannot bare your passing until my dying day. I Love You & will Truly Miss Your Sweet Smiling Soul xo Love Auntie Donna xo
(-=< Ray Hamilton >=-)
July 25, 2018
Dear Taylor, Randy n' Ali, Laura n' Garret, and the entire circle of Tyler's family n' friends,
I don't know Tyler, but have served with men and women like him...warriors in service on our behalf; a good friend, Scott Taylor, informed me of your loss, but I'd have noticed soon after regardless, because I scan the obits daily for friends, family, and veterans as part of my bereavement ministry. This level of service MUST be recognized!!!
Having lost both my parents and understanding holes left behind, regardless the inevitability or forewarning, pray this helps some wee bit...to allow...enable...the grief! And the grief will come, the pain unfortunate, but as necessary; embrace it and let it work its magic, while remembering the depth of it is a yardstick of not only the impact of your loss, but the breadth of the love it represents. So truly sorry to hear about your husband, son, friend, brother. At least now he's at peace with our Lord...definitely keepin' y'all in my prayers!
When my mother died, even after a years-long battle with cancer, I was shattered by the loss...inconsolable...she was my mentor! I like to think that I got my character from my father, but my mind and its capacity from m'dear sainted mother!!! BUT, "If your faith assures you she's in heaven, then what are the tears all about?!?" I hold eternity dearly close...a cherished, hard-won prize...but, in the interim, that answer lies below.
SELFISH TEARS
(I Eulogize My Beloved Mother - March, 1989)
Today we cry...must admit they're selfish tears.
You see...our faith assures your journey's done.
But it's not for you we mourn, at all, my dear;
It's for those of us you've left behind...alone!!!
We share your joy...share your happiness at rest,
Your painful fears now for forever stilled.
You've fought the good fight, passed the final test,
But you've left behind a hole that can't be filled!!!
So, until we each rejoin you some someday,
And, while your memory buoys us through those years,
We'll miss you...but continue on our way,
And, from time to time, we'll cry our selfish tears!!!
Ray Hamilton - March 19, 1989
My fond, sincerest condolences and prayers,
joyce meehan
July 25, 2018
My Condolences to the family and friends. Thank you Sgt. TY for you service to our country.
Ro
July 25, 2018
GodsBlessings to all thank you for giving us your service
Aileen
July 25, 2018
Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace.
Dorothy Satti
July 25, 2018
Thank you for your service and dedication to protecting America
Sincerest appreciation to you and your family for your sacrifice.Wishing all the strength and support to somehow get through and heal
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