John R. Grabner, Jr. came into this world on November 2, 1938, the eldest offspring of John & Ethel Grabner of Newton, Kansas. He shuffled off this mortal coil peacefully in his sleep 79 years later, on January 6, 2018, after a prolonged struggle with COPD and congestive heart failure.

Dr. Grabner (known as Dr. Daddy to his own offspring) was something of an itinerant professor. He retired in 1996 from The Ohio State University as an Associate Professor of Marketing and Logistics, where he taught for 30 years. Not being truly ready to retire, however, he spent the next 8 years imparting his wisdom at Syracuse University in New York, and the following 13 doing likewise at the University of North Texas in Denton. When his loving wife of 59 years, Charlene S. (Johnson) Grabner, voiced her desire last year (in no uncertain terms) to live nearer to their daughters, the couple returned to Columbus. Besides his wife, Professor Grabner is survived by all his siblings: Betty Grabner Whitted of Valley Center, Kansas, Charles Grabner of Norwalk, Iowa, and Ray Grabner of Omaha, Nebraska. In addition, his four daughters, Teresa (Mark) Frye of Columbus, Linda (Joseph) Travis of Franconia, Pennsylvania, Gail (Michael) Zronek of Twinsburg, Ohio, and Karen (Robert Jeffrey) Eckenrode of Columbus, were with him to surround him with love in his final days. His prolific progeny have ensured that he is further survived by 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Our professorial patriarch will be greatly missed, especially his discourses on all manner of topics on which he would engage with – or, more accurately speaking, expound upon to – his progeny.

For those wishing to pay their respects, calling hours will be held Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 1:00 - 3:30 pm at the Egan-Ryan Funeral Home Northwest Chapel at 4661 Kenny Rd. in Columbus. This will be followed at 3:30 by a Rosary Service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Catholic Relief Services.

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