John Bridges McGrath

John Bridges McGrath of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away on November 22, 2025. He was 87 and died quickly from a heart attack while cleaning the floors in his home. He viewed housecleaning as a service to his wife, and so his final hour symbolizes the attitude of service that he had throughout his life.

John was born on May 6, 1938, and spent his childhood in Davenport, Iowa, and Des Moines, Iowa, where his father managed a facility for Goodyear Tire Company. John struggled in school due to severe dyslexia, but his condition was not diagnosed until many years later, when he joined the army. During high school he worked for Western Union, delivering telegrams by bicycle. After high school he briefly took classes at Grand View College in Des Moines, and it was during this time that he met his future wife, Marlys Hermanson, who was attending the nearby Iowa Methodist School of Nursing.

In 1961 John enlisted in the Army and served for three years with the Army Security Agency in Arlington, Virginia. During one of his furloughs Marlys agreed to marry him, and their wedding was 6 months later during his next furlough, on June 9, 1963. After serving in the Army, he went to barber school and then owned an Arlington barbershop, “Mr. John’s Gentlemen’s Hairstylist”, for 30 years. Some clients came to him for decades, and after John retired they drove to his house for haircuts rather than find a new barber. Even 16 years post-retirement, and after John and Marlys had moved to Fredericksburg, 50 miles away, one client still made the 100-mile round-trip each month to continue getting haircuts from John.

John had several hobbies, like restoring the 1899 Victorian home where he and Marlys raised their family. After restoration their home featured in historic house tours that raised money for charity, and it was the stage for a wedding and a television commercial. Eventually Marlys turned part of the home into a successful Bed & Breakfast, named “Memory House”, for 9 years. During this time they enjoyed meeting guests from all over America and many other countries who came to the Washington, DC, area for both business and vacation. In retirement they often hosted foreign students who came to America to study English, and they kept in touch with those students for years afterward.

John was skilled at needlepoint. There was a needlepoint shop next door to his barbershop, so he stitched needlepoint in his spare time between clients. He made needlepoint gifts for Marlys and their family, including Christmas ornaments, purses, chair seat covers, framed artwork, and a rug. His needlework often won champion ribbons at the county fair.

John volunteered at church. He began helping with church childcare so that he could care for his toddler grandson, but he was still helping long after his grandson was an adult. He often volunteered for Faith Family Hospitality, a church-based organization that helps homeless families, and he helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity.

He loved gardening and grew vegetables and flowers every season from 1979 until the end of his life.

In retirement, John and Marlys finally found time to travel. They traveled across the United States and in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia/New Zealand, often visiting friends that they had made by hosting guests at home. In 2012 they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to be close to their son and his family. John soon insisted on mowing his son’s lawn so that his son would have more time to focus on career and family, and he kept this habit until he was 85. He began baking muffins every week and gave them away to his neighbors, friends, repairmen, and doctors, earning the nickname “The Muffin Man” from his friends. He enjoyed giving haircuts to his son and grandson every month until the end of his life.

John was predeceased by a son, and is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters, and three grandchildren. He donated his body to medical research. Instead of a funeral, his family will host an informal reception at his home later this winter. For details, e-mail [email protected].