Wisconsin military police officer Staff Sgt. Jesse Grindey of Hazel Green dies in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jesse Grindey, 30, of Hazel Green died Monday in Kandahar province, according to the DOD.

Grindey, who joined the Army 10 years ago, was a military policeman assigned to the 287th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion based at Fort Riley, Kan. It was his second deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Jesse was born the son of Richard and Sara (Kruser) Grindey in Cuba City, Wisconsin. He married Mirafe “Mary” C. Commission on April 28, 2008 in the Philippines.

He was a 2001 graduate of Southwestern High School. He enlisted into the United States Army in March 2002 and served one tour of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was assigned to 287th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansas. Jesse really enjoyed being a volunteer firefighter/EMT for the Hazel Green Fire Department and the Hazel Green Rescue Squad, and helping his uncle, Doug Kruser with the family business, The Wigwam Bar and Grill. He also enjoyed cooking for his family and spending quality time with his wife, kids, family and friends. He was extremely close and proud of his fellow soldiers. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Jesse is survived by his wife, their two children, his mother, his father, a sister, a half-sister, three grandmothers, grandfather, and special friends, Kevin and Mike.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Daniel Kruser, Larry O’Brien, Donna Reichling, Clarence and Lila Grindey and Eldon Wills; and two uncles, Mike Kruser and Jim Grindey.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Hazel Green, with The Rev. Lance Schneider officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites accorded.

A SSG Jesse J. Grindey Memorial Fund has been established at any of the American Bank locations.

Staff Sgt. Jesse J. Grindey, 30, of Hazel Green, WI passed away on Monday, March 12, 2012 in Kandahar, a province in Afghanistan while serving in the United States Army. Services will be held at 11am on Friday, March 23 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Hazel Green, WI with Father Lance Schneider officiating; burial will be at the St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, with military rites accorded. Friends may call from 3pm to 8pm on Thursday, March 22 at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Hazel Green, WI and on Friday from 9am till time of service at the church. The Haudenshield Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City, WI is serving the family.

Jesse was born on March 3, 1982 to Richard & Sara (Kruser) Grindey in Cuba City, WI. He was a 2001 graduate of Southwestern High School in Hazel Green, WI. He enlisted into the US Army in March 2002 and served 1 tour of duty in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan. He was assigned to 287th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, KS.

He married Mirafe “Mary” C. Commission on April 28, 2008 in the Philippines. Jesse really enjoyed being a volunteer firefighter/EMT for the Hazel Green Fire Dept & the Hazel Green Rescue Squad, and helping his uncle Doug Kruser with the family business, The Wigwam Bar & Grill.

He also enjoyed cooking for his family and spending quality time with his wife, kids, family and friends. He was extremely close and proud of his fellow soldiers.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. Jesse is survived by his wife, Mirafe and their 2 children, Jesse Jr. & Joanna Grindey of Hazel Green, WI; his mother, Sara (Brian Wills) Grindey of Hazel Green, WI; his father, Richard (Diane) Grindey of Shullsburg, WI; a sister, Brandy Grindey of Hazel Green, WI; a half-sister, Trudi Lopp of Maquoketa, IA; 3 grandmothers, Leah “Rosie” Kruser, Jane O’Brien and Mary Wills; grandfather, Pete Reichling; and special friends, Kevin Hess and Mike Gorham.

He is preceded in death by grandparents, Daniel Kruser, Larry O’Brien, Donna Reichling, Clarence & Lila Grindey and Eldon Wills; 2 uncles, Mike Kruser and Jim Grindey.

In lieu of flowers a SSG Jesse J. Grindey Memorial Fund has been established at any of the American Bank locations.

HAZEL GREEN, Wis. (AP) — Friends and family will say goodbye Friday to a Wisconsin soldier who died in Afghanistan as the U.S. Department of Defense investigates his death.

Services for Staff Sgt. Jesse Grindey will be held in the Grant County community of Hazel Green. The 30-year-old Grindey joined the Army 10 years ago and was a military policeman assigned to the 287th Military Police Company based at Fort Riley, Kan. He served one tour of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

Grindey died March 12 in Kandahar province. The DOD released no details of his death.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with burial at the church cemetery. Grindey is survived by his wife, two children and other family members.

SSgt. Jesse Grindey died last Monday while serving overseas. A procession Tuesday guided his body from Dubuque through his hometown of Hazel Green to the funeral home in Cuba City.

“He would do anything for you, give you the shirt off his back,” said Tammy Hanson Rivera, who grew up with Grindey. “He’s someone that is really, really, going to be missed by this community because he did so much for everybody.”

Even before Grindey graduated high school he took a pager to class so he could help the local police and fire teams in emergencies. Shortly after the September 11 attacks he enlisted.

Grindey also served in Iraq, Korea, and Japan. His friends say even when he returned on break he returned to volunteering for the fire department.

Grindey’s funeral is Friday morning.

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UPDATED: Monday, March 19, 2012 — 5:45 p.m.

From a family spokesperson:

SSgt. Grindey (KIA 12 March 2012) will be returning to the Tri State area tomorrow 20 March 2012. He will be escorted from Dubuque Regional Airport to the Village of Hazel Green then to the City of Cuba City. Estimated time of arrival will be 1330 hours to 1400 hours in Hazel Green. However I caution there may be delays. The family thanks you for your support and love in time of great sorrow. If you want to express your support please feel free to line STH 11 in Hazel Green or STH 80 in Cuba City up to Haudenscheld Funeral Home. Thank you again and please take a moment of silence for the families of the military personnel who have died.

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