Obituary of Gordon Goram Grimm

Gordon Grimm passed away Monday, September 8, 2014, at the Polidori House (Hospice) in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was 99. Except for the last week of his life, he always lived in his own home independently. He was born July 19, 1915, in the small town of Olivet, South Dakota. His parents were Ed and Minnie Grim. Gordon graduated from Olivet High School. He was captain of the basketball team where they won two back-to-back state championships. He then graduated from County Normal Teachers College where he met his wife, Dorothy Thomson. He followed her to McMinnville, Oregon, where they were married in a double wedding ceremony with Dorothy's sister on July 15, 1939. (He said he chased her until she finally caught him!) He worked in a lumber mill, which he claimed to be one of the hardest jobs he ever had. Later that year they moved to Southern California where Gordon trained at Douglas Aircraft in aeronautical engineering. A few years later he also attended aeronautical school at Northrop Aircraft. He was employed there building airplanes until retirement in 1972. In the early years he was also a pitcher for the South Coast Baseball minor league. He was an outstanding athlete and excelled in many sporting activities. He was truly the definition of a self-made man. Gordon and Dorothy had been married 72 years when she died in 2011. They raised three daughters: Diana (Rodger) Delk of Lake Havasu City, AZ; Leanna (Keith) Johnson of Cadillac, MI; and Pamela Grimm of Las Vegas, NV. They have seven grandchildren (Rodger Jr., Jeffrey, Michael, Marci, Gina, Richie, Lori); seven great-grandchildren (Chasen, Ryan, Gordon, Jack, Nicholas, Miranda, Roland); and two great-great-grandchildren (Addison, Colston). They lived in various cities in Southern California, most recently San Juan Capistrano, until moving to Lake Havasu City in 2006. He was an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, enjoyed his flower gardens...especially his beautiful roses, fishing, horseshoes, and computer. He and Dorothy traveled all over the U.S. with their Airstream trailer for many years making lots of wonderful friends. He was an excellent card player; Dorothy thought he was just plain lucky, but secretly knew that he was just too darned good! But the thing he enjoyed the most was being with his family and good friends. He had a sharp mind, wonderful sense of humor, was very generous, and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone. He led a truly exemplary life and will be terribly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, four sisters, and two great-grandchildren. A private family memorial service will take place at a later date. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to Gordon's family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.