John Frank Grillo, 100, of Crystal City died May 16, 2026, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis County. Mr. Grillo served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII, supporting D-Day, and was a graduate of Penn State University. He moved his family to St. Louis in 1958 and became a utility engineer for the Missouri Highway Department out of the District 6 office in Kirkwood for 32 years. In 1978, he married his wife and moved to Crystal City. He was an active member of VFW Post 3777 and American Legion Post 253. He enjoyed floating the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and made annual fishing trips to Canada. He coached girls’ basketball at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf and played softball for the Highway Department into his 50’s. Always a fan of trains, he was part of the Jefferson County Model Train Club and set up displays around the Bi-State area. He also loved to stop in small towns and photograph their train stations. Born Nov. 29, 1925, in Clermont, Penn., he was the son of the late Maria (Falbo) and Carmine Grillo.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Frances (LaBrier) Grillo.
He is survived by six children: Pam (Jerry) Cartee of High Hill, Sarah (Mark) McAvoy of Buda, Texas, Kathy (Tom Nolan) Grillo of St. Louis, Dwight (Lisa) Bruhn of N. Richland Hills, Texas, Tina Rein of St. Louis and Jim (Karen) Grillo of Webster Groves; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by four siblings: Joe Grillo, Tony Grillo, Theresa Smith and Sarah DeLucia; and a grandchild: Tara Rose McAvoy.
Visitation is scheduled from noon until a funeral service at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by Father Zac Povis. Interment will be in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.