Chester Frank "Chet" Grochoski Jr.'s Obituary
Chester Frank “Chet” Grochoski, Jr. age 81, passed away Friday, December 26, 2025, after a brave battle with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. He was born January 7, 1944, in Grand Rapids, MI to Chester Frank and Mary (Skorupski) Grochoski.
Chet was raised on a family farm in Ada, Michigan. Being both very bright and driven, his chemistry teacher recommended him for a lab tech position at a budding company, Amway Corporation. He held several positions during his long career there ranging from high school intern to his last position as Vice President of Corporate Development. During his early years at Amway, he graduated valedictorian from the first graduating class of Grand Valley State College in 1967 and earned an MBA from Western Michigan University. One of his favorite projects was building the Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. In 1991 Chet moved on from Amway and moved north, purchasing and operating Calumet Machine in the upper peninsula of Michigan where he was introduced to the world of winter construction. He and his wife Susie started Ground Heaters, Inc. in 1995, manufacturing revolutionary cold weather construction equipment. After successfully running Ground Heaters for more than ten years, they sold their company and enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement on the shores of Lake Michigan with family and friends.
Chet served as a board member of the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority, the Grand Rapids Economic Development Corporation, the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and was one of twelve members worldwide to serve on the Cold Weather Concreting committee of the American Concrete Institute.
He was a member of Spring Lake Country Club in Michigan and Copperleaf Golf Club in Estero, Florida. He was a voracious reader of non-fiction (often with a cat on his lap) and enjoyed port to port boating with his sweetheart Susie, golfing, and bocce ball. He played slow-pitch softball and tennis in his younger days.
Chet is lovingly remembered by his wife, Susie Meekhof; daughter, Jennifer (Blaine) Thompson; son, Geoffrey Grochoski; two step-daughters, Lauri (Mark) Erickson and Jodi (David Behmer) Meekhof; step-son, Matt (Jennifer) Meekhof; six grandchildren: Jacqueline (Patrick) Murray, Andrew (Ruth Kirby) Thompson, Mike Meekhof, Brooke Meekhof, Sophia Sherman, and Elliot Sherman; two great-grandchildren, John Murray and Daphne Murray. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Steven Grochoski and Gregory Grochoski, and his first wife Judy Grochoski.
A celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2026. Memorials in honor of Chet may be directed to Interim Hospice or Children’s Advocacy Center in Holland, MI.
Arrangements entrusted to the VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at https://www.sytsemafh.com.
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