Daniel Ray "Dan" Gribbon

Daniel Ray "Dan" Gribbon A memorial service for Daniel Ray "Dan" Gribbon of Cottage Grove, Wis., will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at Gunderson East Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Drive, Monona, Wis., with a time of sharing from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Born May 31, 1949, in Redwood Falls, Minn., to Raymond T. and Sarah Stevenson Gribbon, he died Saturday, March 15, 2008, at the Hospice Care Inc. Center in Madison, Wis., after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease for over five years. Dan grew up in Wheeling, Ill., attending local schools and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1974, with a degree in social sciences. Dan started with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dane County as a volunteer, progressing to case worker, case work supervisor and becoming executive director in 1984. Dan retired after 29 years in 2002. Under Dan's leadership, the Couples Program, the Friends of Kids Program and the School Friends Program were established. The agency expanded into Columbia, Marquette and Green counties under Dan's leadership as well. Dan also served a term as president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wisconsin. One of his proudest accomplishments was to be a big brother match to a 12-year-old little brother named Mark Rounds. Mark and Dan's match did not end when Mark became 18, but Dan remained close while Mark started a family and eventually became a top executive in his field. Dan loved family, friends, fishing (especially in Canada and Door County), travel and putzing in his gardens. He was involved in Downtown Rotary Club of Madison for many years. Dan was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his loving wife, Julie Mandelert Gribbon; brother, John (Sue) Gribbon; nephews and niece, JT Gribbon, Jennifer (Jack) Bedrosian and Mitchell Mandelert; and great-nephews, Luke, Jacob and Matthew Bedrosian. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to any of the following, the Daniel R. Gribbon Achievement Award Fund of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, the Alzheimer's Association or Hospice Care Inc. Finally, the family wishes to thank Britt Hutchinson, Angela Novoselac and Megan Gerbar for their exceptional in-home care of Dan during his struggles. For information, 608-221-5420.