John V. "Jack" Grimes

John V. "Jack" Grimes passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025, in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Jack was born September 10, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mary Evans Grimes and Dr. Patrick D. Grimes. In 1950 the family moved to Elmhurst, Illinois, where Jack attended high school and Elmhurst College. He joined the Illinois National Guard in 1955 and served as forwarding and receiving clerk in the 108th Medical Battalion. He earned a bachelor and master degrees in biology at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb and was charter president of the Phi Sigma honorary research fraternity.
Among the experiences Jack enjoyed in his formative years were summers spent with family at his uncle's farm in Wisconsin; employment as a newsstand paper boy, grocery store clerk, tree trimmer, temporary mailman, and newspaper distribution driver (Elmhurst Press). He also enjoyed working, hunting and fishing on the family farm near St. Charles, Illinois. In college he acquired an interest in genetics and did thesis research studying fruit flies, investigating and revealing genetic transference of traits and behavioral dispositions.
Jack was an instructor in biology at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, from 1961 to 1964 and a National Science Foundation participant in the Summer Institutes for College Teachers of Biology at Vanderbilt University and at North Carolina State University. In 1963 he married Joanne Klutsch whom he had known since high school. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1965 where their two sons were born, and Jack earned his Ph.D in genetics in 1970 from the University of Utah.
Next, the family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, where Jack joined the faculty of Midwestern State University, continuing his teaching career until retiring in 2003 as Professor Emeritus. At MSU, Jack served as coordinator for the biology program for many years and taught courses in human biology, cell biology, embryology, and electron microscopy amongst others to many students. He did pro bono and consulting work in electron microscopy for area businesses. On sabbatical leave from MSU in 1975, Jack joined the University of California at Davis's Department of Genetics as a research associate in the laboratory of Professor Theodosius Dobzhansky, a well renown geneticist. The family returned to Wichita Falls in 1976 where Jack resumed his teaching and research career at MSU.
Jack was a lifetime member and past president of the Sunrise Optimist Club, enjoyed the early morning breakfast meetings, and regularly helped with the various services the club provided to the youth of the community for many years. He was a board member of the Red Cross Swimming Pool Committee, the Wichita Cancer League, and the MSU Credit Union. In retirement he enjoyed travel and gatherings with family and friends and regular visits to the YMCA.
Along with his parents, Jack was predeceased by his older brother Lt. Commander William P. Grimes and sister Mary Alice Hercher, and is survived by his much beloved wife Joanne, and sons Andrew (Amanda) of Austin, TX, and Donald (Aaren) of Georgetown, TX; two grandchildren Mallory Grimes of Georgetown, TX and Jack Grimes of Austin, TX; sisters Joan Pryor of Essex, CT, and Margarite (Ray) Bahar of Eldorado Hills, CA; fifteen (15) nieces and nephews, and many dear friends and other relatives.
Cherished and loved deeply by his family, Jack will be dearly missed by them, many friends, and students. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the nursing and medical staff, too numerous to name here, for their compassionate care at United Regional Hospital's Patricia Ann Guinn Progressive Care Unit.
Memorial mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church Saturday, June 7, 12:30 p.m. in Wichita Falls, Texas. A private inurnment is to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery on a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations please be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls and/or the charity of your choice.