James "Jim" Lee Grossman

James “Jim” Lee Grossman, 78, of Valrico, FL, was born August 5, 1947, in Butler, PA. Jim was the devoted son of Marion Grossman and Dorothy Buchanan, brother to Robert, Lyndall, Bonnie, and Patty and uncle to many nieces and nephews.

As a child, Jim attended a one-room schoolhouse in Connoquenessing Twp and then Emily Brittain Elementary. He graduated from Butler High School in 1965 and worked at Armco Steel. At 19 years old, to avoid conscription, he joined the Marines.

He spent two years, from August 1966 to 1968, with the Third Marine Division (Reinforced) in the Republic of Vietnam, an area bordered by over 200 miles of South China Sea coastline, the mountainous Laotian border, and the Demilitarized Zone. The Third Marine Division “successfully executed eighty major combat operations and more than 125,000 offensive counter guerrilla actions”. In July 1966, his division fought a series of battles that were recognized with a citation signed by President Johnson.

Upon his return to Butler, PA, Jim began his career with Morse Shoe, working his way up to District Manager. He married Kathryn Marie Zarnick, his high school sweetheart, and had two daughters. Jim enjoyed working on his car, fishing, and carpentry. His family has fond memories of their time together carving pumpkins, picking apples, listening, and singing along to rock ‘n’ roll, learning photography, biking, and sharing his love of McConnells Mill. Jim loved his family deeply. After retirement, Jim and Kathy moved to the sunshine state.

Jim passed away on June 10, 2026, at home with his family, from the effects of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kathryn (Zarnick) Grossman in Valrico FL, and two daughters: Michele Grossman (Aaron Cope) in San Francisco, and Jennifer Grossman (Elijah Miller) in Brooklyn, New York.

The family will have a private memorial service with military honors.

Memorial donations can be made in Jim’s name to the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration.