Wilderness Calls would like to take a moment to pay tribute to one of it's fallen family members. James Duncan Grinstead, was born on May 10, 1932 and expired on November 6, 2009. He was and will always be known to us as Uncle JD! Uncle JD was the youngest son of George and Etta Grinstead or better known to Wilderness Calls as Grandpa Redneck (papa). He grew up the simple farm life, working from daylight to dark on the same 200 acre farm he was living on when he expired. He learned how to hunt and fish on the banks of the Suwannee River in north, Florida. When he graduated high school, which was located in a one room learning facility in Branford, Florida, he continued his education at the University of Florida. Here is where he became one of the biggest Gator fans I have ever been associated with. I am sure he will be looking down on the Gators this Saturday and any other time a sporting team from Florida plays, smiling when they win and frowning if they lose. The many conversations about the Florida Gator football team will truly be missed. Some of my favorite memories was talking with Uncle JD after the Gators would win a championship, it was as if he had just won the championship himself. I guess in a way he did! He was married to Aunt Mona and they raised three children, which now have a passel of children of their own. Uncle JD and Aunt Mona were still married when he passed away, which in today's times is a feat in itself.
Uncle JD was instrumental in the development of our own Wise Old Redneck Guru. When Grandpa Redneck passed away in 1972, he took the Wise Old Redneck Guru under his wing and continued to assist him in becoming what he is today. He always seemed to be a giant of a man in my eyes, or maybe that was from the respect he had gained.
When Wilderness Calls was just in the infant stage, Uncle JD was there to lend his support mentally and financially. I can remember him saying to me on several occasions, "I do not understand how anyone can set in a tree for hours, waiting on a deer", then he would pause and say "but I guess it is no different than me setting on a hard bleacher seat and watching my Gators play". Our memories of Uncle JD are many, way more than we could ever put in writing, but he will never be forgotten. Just as the Swamp in Gainesville, Florida will always seem a little empty without him there, so will Wilderness Calls. The staff and family at Wilderness Calls are proud to have known such a great individual and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to a man that did so much for us and asked for so little in return. We were truly blessed and words will never be able to do him justice. May he rest in peace.