Rodger “Kenny” Grieves was born on June 17, 1940, in Pennsylvania. As a youth, he moved to Florida, where he grew to be an amazing man and joined the military where he served in the Vietnam war. As a young man, he met a lovely woman named Linda Winslow that would soon become his wife. These two soon settled in Largo, Florida to start a family. They welcomed three children: Rodney, Denise, and Arlene; and were later blessed with three grandchildren: Cheyenne, Elijah, and Sarrah. He loved each one unconditionally.

While building this legacy, Kenny worked as an upholsterer for Boyd industries and was a lifetime member of Department 56. Department 56 was a staple in his home where he mastered that art of decoration for every holiday that brought joy to everyone who stepped into his home. Sadly, he passed while taking his final nap sitting next to his beloved wife of 55 years on July 27, 2023. It is during this difficult time that we, as his family, celebrate his long life by remembering all of the joy and love he brought to everyone around him. Here are some testimonies from his family of the wonderful, loving man that Kenny was.

His Wife, Linda:

“My Husband, the greatest love I have ever felt or known, I will miss you more than my words or emotions can ever show. Over our 55-plus years of being together, we have experienced all the ups, downs, twists, and turns that a family endures, and we always stuck together and prospered through. I will keep all those memories and share them with everyone as much as I can. You have the sweetest smile, and you were my go-to man, whenever I needed something, you would say “I’ll go to the store”. Deep down, I kn ew you weren’t just going there, but you were also going to every Michael’s and JOANN’s in Pinellas County. You took care of me and our family the best way you knew how. We enjoyed many vacations, cookouts, family gatherings, and our time spent alone watching TV, playing cards, sitting on the porch, or how every time you would decorate the house, you were never done (I loved it!). I know you are resting now with the angels, and you will be another shield over me to protect and help me through this time. I Love You, and I you are still here with me.”

His Daughter, Denise:

“My memory of my dad is his hands of love from his wife to his grandkids. He would sit and watch TV with my mom and hold her hand while sitting side by side in their recliners. For my sister, brother, and I, he would work hard to provide a living, decorate the house with all his heart for different holidays, and if we were lying on the couch and our feet were out when he walked by, he would grab a toe and pull at it and just laugh. He also made wedding decorations for our weddings. It was his joy. For his grandkids, on their first Christmas, he would buy the biggest stocking, decorate it with a certain theme and give it to his kids to fill for their kids. If there was anything his grandkids wanted, he would get it for them. He even finished a special request by one of his grandkids before he left us. This is how I want to remember my dad, his loving hands. Daddy’s hands.”

His Daughter, Arlene:

“Well Daddy, I finally found the words to tell you how much myself and so many others are going to miss you. On the day listed above you got in your recliner and took your nap. I know in my heart that nap was flooded with the most precious, sad, joyful and loving memories of your life. I guess now it’s time for me to recall all the ones I had with you and keep them close to my heart forever. There are so many things that I could write about but I’ll only share a few. Some of the best ones are when you would let me help you reupholster the furniture you were working on. All those Halloween costumes you handmade for me and then you did my makeup to match. How, when we would go eat, you would always tell the waitress more then they needed to know, filter Kenny…lol. The excitement at the holidays when it was time to decorate and make your pumpkin pies, I never told you, but I LOVED this time of year with you, you always made it soooo special and beautiful. There are also memories we don’t want to remember, but we will cause they were you and a part of your journey. But the best memories of all are the long hours we would sit at the table and talk while doing puzzles. Daddy, I will miss you more than you know, but I know you are no longer in pain and with Grandma and your brothers again…I Love You!!!”

His Daughter-in-Law, Kathy:

“How does one say goodbye to a man that means the world to so many? I have often said that I won the in-law lottery and that still rings true. This man and his adoring wife welcomed me and so many others into the fold over the 83 years we were blessed to have him on this earth. I can’t even remember all the wayward teens, friends and family that have found a safe place to land with Mom and Dad over these many decades. We always knew Dad would pat us on the back, welcome us in from whatever storm we were facing, while mom would hug us tight and make sure our bellies were full.

Kenny was known for his mischief. He would sneak Rodney out of bed after the girls went to bed to watch a movie or take the grandkids out to get treats that would absolutely spoil their dinner. He’d laugh and pull them into his lap and let them make a mess of their food or whatever crafts he had out and whisper to them not to tell grandma.

Kenny brought holiday cheer to our community over the years with elaborate Department 56 displays he created in every season. He was always especially proud of the displays he created at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg. For all of the displays he built across our community, none were as elaborate as those he built in his house. He would even make holes in the wall to accommodate his plans, even when Mom was fit to be tied. Those of us who saw how he decorated every single room of his house will never forget the magic he brought to Christmas.

Kenny certainly had his quirks, and we’d get on his case about being a cranky curmudgeon, but he saw no shame in taking his own glass of Diet Pepsi into a restaurant that didn’t serve Pepsi products. Also, we could not tell you how many orders of fries he sent back because they weren’t hot enough or crispy enough for him.

Over his 83 years, starting in Pennsylvania, moving to Florida, serving in Vietnam, and finally settling in Pinellas County, Kenny has made his mark in this world, but none so much as the mark he has left on those who loved him. He has left pieces of himself in all of us that will fortify us as we find our way. He has given tools to each of us to help us know how to love each other, lean on each other, and look out for each other. He had incredible vision and creativity that we may never see again. He loved his family fiercely, especially his beloved Lindy. Whether you knew him as Kenny, Rodger, Uncle Kenny, Dad, or Grandpa, you knew he was special and one of a kind.”

His Granddaughter, Cheyenne:

“July 27, 2023, was the day I received the news that we have been dreading for the last year. The news that you passed away peacefully in your sleep sitting next to your wife, the woman you have loved and been married to for the last 55 years and I just have one question: “How do I let you go? How do I walk into your house and not expect you to be sitting at the kitchen table with your Diet Pepsi fiddling with your decorations?” This is one of those times where the words “Your wings were ready, but not our hearts” ring true.

You were the best grandpa a girl could ask for. You loved every one of us without question. You made my very first stocking and fulfilled one last request from me before you went to a better place. You were a master of Christmas decorations and the displays that you put together were never finished until Christmas Eve. As a little girl, you were gracious and let me help you build those displays even though you knew I would soon lose interest. These displays were elaborate and not something you saw all the time, and yet, I got to see them every year. Your Christmas decorations were always my favorite and brought a magic to that time of year that cannot be repeated. It is this that makes me thankful we were able to capture that magic in picture so we will always have the memories.

When I would spend the night, you would let me sleep with grandma when I spent the night whenever I asked as long as I switched our pillows, you always had the snacks and ice cream ready for our visits, you would let me watch my movies during the times that you would normally watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, you would share your Diet Pepsis with me at dinner, and so much more. It was always funny when you got yelled at for not wear your “ears” (hearing aids) because you couldn’t hear what we were saying. As you got older, you lost your filter and the things you would say were hilarious as we got to laugh in bewilderment. You provided so many with a good laugh and got joy out of doing simple things like going to the store or going to Michaels or Robert’s Christmas World or shopping at Department 56. You lived a good long life, and I am thankful that you got to see me graduate from both high school and college. At the time of my college graduation, you had trouble getting around, so you were using a wheelchair and your oxygen. However, when it came time to take pictures, you were so proud that you wanted to wear my graduation cap, stand tall without your oxygen and take a picture with me. You were so happy to be wearing my cap that I let you wear it for the rest of the time, and you kept it on even though grandma kept telling you no. Thank you for not listening to her and giving me those happy memories. You did a lot for all your kids and grandkids as you provided us with lots of fun memories to look back on during these times. We know that you will be watching over all of us now as you wait for us to come join you one day. It may take a while, but I have faith that we will see you again one day.

But I still have to ask, “How do I let you go? How do I accept the fact that I won’t get to see you again? Hug you again? How do I come to terms with the fact that I won’t get to look forward to your amazing Christmas displays that became a staple part of our Christmas’s every year?

I love you, Grandpa! I can’t believe you’re gone, and I will miss you more than you know!”