Born on January 8, 1950 in Hartford, Connecticut, John Arthur Combs, Jr. passed away on March 12, 2026. A family man and successful entrepreneur, he will be greatly missed by his loved ones.

John is survived by his wife Grethe Winther; daughters, Janae Combs, Jenna Combs, and Sonja Twiford; son-in-law Nii Aryee; grandchildren NaaDzema Aryee and Josiah Aryee; and a host of nieces and nephews. Together, they carry forward his spirit and values.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Combs; his father, John Combs, Sr.; sister Joyce Laysears and her husband Ozzo Laysears; and sister Jackie Handshaw and her husband James Handshaw.

John’s career path included the founding of two small businesses, Professional Staffing, Inc. and The Training Network. At Professional Staffing, Inc., he served as a recruiter for the tech industry. His business flourished for decades, until his later years when he started The Training Network. John contracted with the government to travel the country teaching organizations the proper procedures to control lead exposure. His entrepreneurial spirit was seen and admired by his daughters, who also went on to run their own successful businesses.

An excellent cook, John shined in the kitchen and many memories were created through his food. Friends and family all looked forward to his crab feasts. He could cook both simple and complex dishes, and his Norwegian family enjoyed his master classes on making the perfect risotto. While his daughter Jenna often reached out to him for instructions on how to mimic his simple, but perfect, pot of chicken and rice.

His joy for cooking mirrored his love for all things related to Philadelphia sports. John wasn’t loud or boisterous and often watched his games with quiet enthusiasm. But he never missed an opportunity to enjoy a game or two at a neighborhood tavern, or even at a stadium or arena, with his daughter Sonja.

John and Grethe traveled the world, meeting people, learning about their lives, and experiencing new cultures.

He was a quiet man who moved through the world with a keen mind and an open heart. As we remember John, we honor a life fully lived, a soul deeply loved, and a spirit that lives on through his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.

John will be laid to rest in Norway.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to https://amyloidosis.org/act/