Rodney Frank Grgich stepped peacefully across the veil Saturday, July 18, 2020, at Willow Springs Rocky Mountain Care Center in Tooele, Utah, due to complications of diabetes. He was 77 years old. Rodney was born August 12, 1942, to Frank and Goldie Grgich in Tooele, Utah.
He graduated from Tooele High School and shortly after was inducted into the Army during the Vietnam War. During his service he was trained as a medic. Once his tour was over, he met and married Sharon Williams in Elko, Nevada. They had five children together and later divorced. He met and married Constance Bryan in Tooele, Utah, and as his health deteriorated the marriage was amicably ended.
Rodney worked at the Tooele Army Depot for most of his career retiring as a sergeant. While there, he earned several awards for safe driving and marksmanship with a M16 rifle. He would often take his children shooting and was known for driving either exactly at the speed limit or a few miles under, much to the dismay of his children and grandchildren. He served with the Grantsville Soil Conservation District and received an award for outstanding accomplishments in resource conservation. Of all the things he did in his life, farming was his passion. It was obvious to anyone who knew him that he worked so that he could farm. He raised alfalfa, barley, potatoes, and Charolais cows. One of his favorite things was looking over the fields when the alfalfa was in bloom and watching the sunsets across the fields.
Rodney loved Dr. Pepper, old westerns, Elvis, and was a quiet and generous person who found great joy in providing acts of kindness and service to those in need. He was loved by his family and will be greatly missed.
He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is survived by his children Tom (Tami) Grgich, Brenda (Troy) Gowans, Tricia (Mark) Houghton, Rodney Jr. (Jodi) Grgich, Brittney (Jason) Lillion; his brother Jerry (Sherry) Grgich; 16 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Dan, Reed, Ellis, and Marlin.
Service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Tate Mortuary. The viewing to be held from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., followed by a graveside service at noon at the Tooele City Cemetery where he will be interred. The family wishes to give a heartfelt thanks to all the aides, nurses, doctors, and hospice care workers at Willow Springs Rocky Mountain Care Center who cared for Rodney with such loving and compassionate care.