Sgt. James Grotjan

Waterford — Sgt. James Tyler Grotjan, 26, of Waterford, passed away with family by his side on July 12, 2018 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

He was born to Laura (Prentice) Grotjan and Randy Grotjan on Sept. 23, 1991, in Charleston, S.C. After graduation from Bacon Academy in 2010, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a member of the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C., after tours in South Korea and England.

Tyler was an exceptional, one-of-a-kind young man who had an infectious smile and witty sense of humor. The only thing that Ty loved more than his country and his dogs was his wife and family members. Known as the class clown, he had few serious moments but would go out of his way to do anything for anyone. He had a way of making you laugh and smile and forget your problems, if just for a little while.

He is survived by his wife, Taylor Faye Grotjan of Dudley, N.C.; father and stepmother Randy and Ali Grotjan of Colchester; mother and stepfather Laura L. Prentice and Garret Kusman of Waterford; siblings Troy Prentice of Lisbon, N.H., Tori, Brandy, and Mary Grotjan of Colchester, and Garrett and Kylee Kusman of Waterford. He was predeceased by his beloved grandmother Norma Ann Lockwood.

The funeral procession will depart at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, from Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London, and proceed to Jordan Cemetery, Boston Post Road in Waterford, where there will be a graveside service beginning at 11 a.m. After the funeral, family and friends are invited to the Waterford VFW to share stories and celebrate Tyler’s life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Landstuhl Fisher Houses at www.fisherhouse-landstuhl.org.