James R. Groundwater, age 87, died Dec. 25 at Island Health and Rehabilitation on Bainbridge Island.

He was born Feb. 1, 1917, in Chicago, Ill., to James C. and Hattie L. (Fritsche) Groundwater.  

Following graduation from a Chicago high school in 1936, he attended the University of Chicago. 

He then entered the military service in World War II in the U.S. Army, and served in Japan and Germany. 

Following his military service he became a postal clerk.  He retired from the U.S. Post Office in 1972 after 26 years of service. 

For the next 10 years he was a guest columnist for the Chesterton (Indiana) Tribune.  In 1982 he moved to Sun City, Ariz., where he lived until 2001, when he moved to Bainbridge Island and then Poulsbo.

During his younger years, he played semi-pro football and starred on both sides of the ball. He was a linebacker and running back. 

“I loved to tackle,” his stepson Don recalled him saying. 

He was an accomplished writer, poet, innovator and active environmentalist.

He is survived by his step-children, Don and his wife Kerry Sickle, Seattle; Eileen and Doug Hatfield, Bainbridge Island; Susanne and her son Daniel Weider, Byfield, Mass.; niece Jean (James Vesely) and their daughters, Debbie Twelker, Kirkland, and Rebecca Vesely, San Francisco.

Funeral services were held Dec. 28 at Kass Funeral Home with burial at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bainbridge Island.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home, Bainbridge Island.