Dr. John Willis Gridley Sr.

Gridley, Dr. John Willis Sr. Dr. John W. Gridley "Grid" Age 99 Passed away peacefully at home on June 14, 2009. Born in Brook, Indi- ana in 1909, he is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (Root) of Rochester, MN and grandsons, William Gridley and James Gridley. In 1988 he married Phyllis McHattie (nee Sandager) of Roseville, MN. Grid graduated from Purdue University and then the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1943. He was a Captain in the U. S. Army Medical Corps in World War II. He practiced general medicine in Glencoe, MN; Watertown, SD; and Arlington, MN. From 1946 until 1961, he delivered an estimated 1,500 babies, performed surgery and made house calls for $2.50. He was a founding fellow of the American Academy of General Practice. Joining a St. Paul medical group in 1964, he was associated with St. Luke's, Miller, (United Hospitals) and St. Joseph's hospitals. As Chairman of the Arlington School Board for nine years, he was the architect of what is now the East Sibley County School System. For his volunteer medical work in Honduras, he and his family were named the 1961 Methodist Family of the Year. Known for his love of people, and his great story-telling, Grid was an active Zuhrah Shrine Horseman, and was a Mason for sixty-one years. He is survived by his beloved family: wife Phyllis, children, John Jr., Fred (Cam) and Janet Sawyer; grandchildren, great-grandchil-dren and McHattie stepchildren, Peder (Daphne) , Sharon Gytri (Lowell), Diane LaSala (Andrew), Jim (Judy), Rob (Jane), Don (Robyn), grandchildren and great-grandchild. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM (Gathering an hour before) on Thursday the 18th at Lake Harriet Methodist Church, 4901 Chowen Ave. South in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children, 2025 East River Rd, Mpls MN 55414.