Gradoville, John Joseph

John Joseph Gradoville, 60

John Gradoville was found dead from a fall at his home near Guttenberg, Iowa, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.

John was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 8, 1950, to Agnes and Charles Gradoville. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1956. He graduated from Regis High School in 1969, and years later he was inducted into the Regis Hall Of Fame. He attended Kirkwood Community College. John graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA and an MFA from Alfred University.

John was an Artist in Residence at the Des Moines Art Center. He created clay and wood sculptures, clay paintings and various art medias to create his pieces. John spent much of his life expressing his thoughts and emotions through his art. However, art was only a part of him. John had a tremendous ability to learn and a natural ability to figure out how things work. He repaired, rebuilt and remodeled almost anything for countless friends and family members. John loved to travel during the winter months to warm-weather locations throughout the world, most recently to Australia and New Zealand. He would frequently leave for the trips alone, but return home with many new found friends. John was a great outdoorsman. He was able to live life and experience the world as only he could do.

John will be missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his parents, Charley and Ag of Cedar Rapids; his siblings, Bob (Lyn), North Haven, Conn., Mike (Ellen), Youngstown, Ohio, Jim, Beijing, China, Mary (Berry) Bennett, Ankeny, Denny (Connie) Lacey, Wash., Rich (Sandy) Johnston, Bernie (Kathleen), Des Moines, and Brian, Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

John was preceded in death by his brother, Chuck who died in Vietnam.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, All Saints Catholic Church, 720 29th St. SE, Cedar Rapids. The family will receive friends after the funeral in the Parish Family Center until 12:30 p.m. There will be a celebration of John's life Friday evening at Knights of Columbus Council #909, 716 A Ave. NE, from 7 to 10 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to preserve our rivers and streams, such as the Clayton County Conservation Awareness Network, P.O. Box 252, Elkader, IA 52043.