A Life Story
Mr. Henry H. Gronefeld, age 88, passed late Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Memorial Health University Center, surrounded by his loving family. A native of Covington, Kentucky, he was a long-time resident of Bloomingdale, Georgia, was a welder by trade, and a retired port engineer at Crescent Towing. He was a member of Lifespring Worship Center in Bloomingdale and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Gronefeld loved working with his hands, and was very creative, whether doing woodwork or welding. He entered the very first Great Ogeechee River Raft Race in 1976 and won second place in a pedal raft that he built himself. The raft team was nicknamed the Sweat Hogs. He was a grill master, with a rib recipe that is handed down to, and cherished by, his family. He also developed a marinade for fried turkey, which is a protected secret, with family members sharing the marinade, but never the recipe. One of his grandchildren’s favorite memories of their grandpa was being pulled around by him on a John Deere mower towed trailer. Most of all, Henry Gronefeld cherished his wife, Joyce, and loved his family dearly. Mr. Gronefeld was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Elmer and Flossie Sayers Gronefeld; his sisters, Jeanie Lutey and Faye Wilt; his brother, Raymond Gronefeld, Jr.; and a granddaughter, Charisa Combs. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Joyce Gronefeld; children, Jay Gronefeld (Jami), Rhonda Gronefeld Collaso (Paul), Lona Gronefeld, Benjie Jacobs (Marilyn), and Roger Griner (Penny); grandchildren, B.J. Jacobs, Jonathan Collaso, Christopher Jacobs, Nicholas Collaso, Ryan Griner, Kayley Jacobs, Kristen Conner, Kaci Hall, Kimberly Jacobs, Eric Gronefeld, Zach Gronefeld, and Cason Lewis; and great grandchildren, Luke, London, Layla, Abel, Felix, Kimberlynn, Ryder, Garrison, Rylan, Ben, Maverick, Maci, Hannah, and Kaden. Visitation for Mr. Gronefeld will be on Monday, October 12, 2026, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Home, West Chatham Chapel. The funeral service for Mr. Gronefeld will be on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Home, West Chatham Chapel, with Pastor Julie Stanley-Mack officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Abbey-West Memory Gardens. Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Home, WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL, 901 Highway 80 West, Pooler, GA, is in charge of arrangements.