John Julius “Crazy Jack” Grimm flew away on dragonfly wings on Wednesday, June 24th 2026 after a long and stubborn battle with COPD. His spirit will live on in the unbelievable memories and uncountable numbers of people whose lives he impacted. He truly made the world a brighter place and forever changed. Our hearts are heavy.
Jack was born June 19th, 1951 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to parents Joy (Hasslinger) Grimm and Kurt Grimm. He grew up in Stone Bank (Town of Merton) and spent his entire life living on Moose Lake. Jack married the love of his life, Jan (Smith) in 2005, beating the odds of being a lifelong bachelor. He is survived by Jan (Nashotah), and siblings Heidi Levy (Madison), Connie (Todd) Lynch (Nashotah) and Corky (Julie) Grimm (Carbondale, CO), stepchildren Bryan Douglas (Arianna Stasinoulias) (Shorewood, WI) and Alyson Douglas (Zurich, Switzerland), nieces Katie Lynch, Sadie Samantha Grimm, Lisa and Sophia Luciano; nephews Eric Grimm and Michael Chan, along with dozens of cousins scattered around the country.
Jack will forever be remembered as the heart and soul of Hasslinger’s Moose Lake Beach and Orchard, and a legend in the Lake Country area. Hasslinger’s was a unique place of a bygone era, or as Crazy Jack would describe it, “a slice of heaven – small but a slice”. Set on the East shore of Moose Lake, Wisconsin, Hasslinger’s was the site of countless weddings, reunions, Summer gatherings, hook-ups and live music. Hasslinger’s closed in 1998, but up until his dying days, people shared memories of times spent at the beach, in the dance hall, up in the orchard and at the epic Halloween parties. A true “Jack of all trades”, he also spent time as a ski instructor, auctioneer, back-stage hand, East Side bartender, community theatre actor, handyman, World Champion Yodeler, and the world’s best Stepdad and Uncle.
Jack was a collector of friends and touched uncountable lives. Jack’s motto of “Putting a smile on your face” was literally what he strived to do. His personality was magnetic, and once you met him, you were drawn in by his humor and the true interest he took in you. He didn’t care what car you drove (he preferred a used Toyota or his trusty golf cart), how big your house or bank account was, where you went to school, the color of your skin, your gender preference, or the political party you voted for. Everyone got equal treatment from Crazy Jack, but women and children got a little extra.
“Remember, it’s an attitude, not a place” – Crazy Jack
Funeral service to be held August 15, 2026 at St. Anskar’s Episcopal Church in Hartland, WI. (visitation beginning at 11:00 am, service at 12:00 noon); Celebration of Life following service at Stone Bank Community Park. Please wear Hawaiian to “wake up the dead or cheer up the living” or your favorite Hasslinger’s tee-shirt if it still fits!