John Charles McGrew, age 64 of Hudson, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021 at his home following a valiant 3 year battle with cancer. John was born on January 24, 1957, in Hudson WI, the son of Bob and Lorraine (Scuillo) McGrew. He graduated from Hudson High School with the class of 1975, then worked for several years at Ashland Oil in St. Paul Park before leaving to manage The Blues Saloon and Cab’s Pub & Eatery in St. Paul. Although his magnetic personality and “gift of gab” made him ideally suited for working in the bar/restaurant industry, he was also a creative story teller who could think on his feet and engage even the most introverted person in conversation. These attributes eventually helped him land his dream job as a private investigator with R&D Agency in Burnsville. He truly thrived in this line of work, and was highly respected for his investigative abilities. It was around this same time that he met the love of his life, Kim Hanson, and the two enjoyed a beautiful life together for close to 15 years.

John loved riding his Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle, and in addition to many weekend rides with friends, he and Kim enjoyed several memorable trips to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He was known to many in his circle of friends simply as “Magoo”, and although he attempted to portray a “tough-guy” image, John had a heart of gold and would drop anything to help a friend or family member in need. He was also an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and loved watching them play, often in the company of his favorite fur babies, Carmella and Skyyler. His Italian heritage was a source of great pride to him, and he regularly attended the Pepper Festival in North Hudson, as well as golfed for several years in the Italian Open golf tournament in Milwaukee. John’s fighting spirit and positive attitude throughout his cancer journey were truly inspirational, and his quick wit, crazy sense of humor, and huge heart will be missed by many.

John is survived by the love of his life, Kim Hanson; mother, Lorraine McGrew; sisters, Nancy McGrew and Carolyn (Bill) Leckey; step-children, Jason Hanson, and Danelle (Will) Hanson; granddaughters, Bianca and Emma; Kim’s mother, Bonnie (Vic) Warnement; Kim’s siblings, Jeff, Shelly, and Matt Hribar; as well as many other relatives and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Bob McGrew; and Kim’s father, Fred Hribar.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, WI, as well as one hour prior to the service at the church. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held at 12:00 p.m. noon on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1500 Vine St., Hudson, WI, and will also be livestreamed through the St. Patrick Catholic Church Facebook page. Interment will take place at the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson immediately after the service, followed by a celebration of John’s life from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse, 1237 HWY 35 N, Hudson, WI. Memorials preferred to the family.