Donald Grimm
September 1, 1937 — October 23, 2024
Donald Grimm, 87, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024. A visitation will be held from 3 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. Funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 28, 2024, at First Lutheran Church. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Born September 1, 1937, and raised in Hurdsfield, ND, Don formed close bonds with his home community. Like most small-town kids, he was into a lot of school and community activities. He joined hometown musical groups - the Hurdsfield Community Band, a church gospel quartet, and the Red Jackets dance band. He loved participating in sports, of which it was said of him: "It's good that you're so modest, Don; you have a lot to be modest about." After school and Saturdays, he worked in the family business, the Corner Garage, an Allis Chalmers farm equipment dealership.
After high school graduation (in a class of three) Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at North Dakota State University. While there, he worked as a control room engineer at KXJB-TV and was technical director of KDSC, the campus radio station. He played in the Gold Star Band and was a member of Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. Most importantly, Don met Marjorie on a blind date just before his senior year.
Don joined Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids to work as a circuit design engineer in July of 1959. During his Collins career, he completed his MS engineering degree at North Dakota State University, and spent four years at the Collins Melbourne facility, living with his family in Satellite Beach, FL. His responsibilities evolved eventually to a position as Senior Technical Staff in aircraft electronics systems for commuter airliners and business jets.
Don was active at St. Mark's Lutheran Church and later at First Lutheran Church. He sang in the choir and served on numerous church committees. He was a long-time participant in civic choral music organizations and was one of the founding members of the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale.
Many different hobbies attracted Don's interest. He earned a commercial pilot license with multi-engine and instrument ratings and flew over 2000 flight hours, logging pilot-in-command time in 37 different airplanes. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen pilot's fraternity. Don and his family visited nearly all 48 contiguous states by private plane. Model building was a life-long interest, from model airplanes to miniature working models of internal combustion engines. He collaborated with a group of Collins engineers through Nauticos to analyze the final flight of Amelia Earhart. Those search-and-recovery efforts continue to this day. He also created and maintained a web site preserving Hurdsfield historical documents and grave site locations at the cemetery.
Following retirement in 2000, Don joined the Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers. Through that organization, he helped charter the WRAP (Wheelchair Ramp Access Program) and became an active SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) counselor. Don was also an active Kiwanis Club member.
Far more significant than any of these things to Don was his marriage to Marjorie in June 1960. She brought great happiness to his life, and together they shared many decades of life's joys and woes. They were blessed with three children: Ann Grimm, Roy Grimm, and Jane Adams. These children have been a never-ending source of pride, comfort, and satisfaction to their dad.
Don is survived by Marj, Ann, Roy, Jane (Jason), and by his brothers, R. Eugene (Karen) Grimm and Duane (Allison) Grimm, sister-in-law Janice Little, and brother-in-law Rodger (Joanne) Fewell. Don's parents Kermit and Julia (Harris) Grimm preceded him in death, as did an infant son who died at birth, brother-in-law, Jack Little, and sister-in-law, Susan Grimm.
It's Been Fun
Hey, everyone; my ride is here. I have to go.
Thanks for a wonderful visit;
I enjoyed it very much.
See you all later.
- Don Grimm
Born September 1, 1937, and raised in Hurdsfield, ND, Don formed close bonds with his home community. Like most small-town kids, he was into a lot of school and community activities. He joined hometown musical groups - the Hurdsfield Community Band, a church gospel quartet, and the Red Jackets dance band. He loved participating in sports, of which it was said of him: "It's good that you're so modest, Don; you have a lot to be modest about." After school and Saturdays, he worked in the family business, the Corner Garage, an Allis Chalmers farm equipment dealership.
After high school graduation (in a class of three) Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at North Dakota State University. While there, he worked as a control room engineer at KXJB-TV and was technical director of KDSC, the campus radio station. He played in the Gold Star Band and was a member of Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. Most importantly, Don met Marjorie on a blind date just before his senior year.
Don joined Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids to work as a circuit design engineer in July of 1959. During his Collins career, he completed his MS engineering degree at North Dakota State University, and spent four years at the Collins Melbourne facility, living with his family in Satellite Beach, FL. His responsibilities evolved eventually to a position as Senior Technical Staff in aircraft electronics systems for commuter airliners and business jets.
Don was active at St. Mark's Lutheran Church and later at First Lutheran Church. He sang in the choir and served on numerous church committees. He was a long-time participant in civic choral music organizations and was one of the founding members of the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale.
Many different hobbies attracted Don's interest. He earned a commercial pilot license with multi-engine and instrument ratings and flew over 2000 flight hours, logging pilot-in-command time in 37 different airplanes. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen pilot's fraternity. Don and his family visited nearly all 48 contiguous states by private plane. Model building was a life-long interest, from model airplanes to miniature working models of internal combustion engines. He collaborated with a group of Collins engineers through Nauticos to analyze the final flight of Amelia Earhart. Those search-and-recovery efforts continue to this day. He also created and maintained a web site preserving Hurdsfield historical documents and grave site locations at the cemetery.
Following retirement in 2000, Don joined the Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers. Through that organization, he helped charter the WRAP (Wheelchair Ramp Access Program) and became an active SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) counselor. Don was also an active Kiwanis Club member.
Far more significant than any of these things to Don was his marriage to Marjorie in June 1960. She brought great happiness to his life, and together they shared many decades of life's joys and woes. They were blessed with three children: Ann Grimm, Roy Grimm, and Jane Adams. These children have been a never-ending source of pride, comfort, and satisfaction to their dad.
Don is survived by Marj, Ann, Roy, Jane (Jason), and by his brothers, R. Eugene (Karen) Grimm and Duane (Allison) Grimm, sister-in-law Janice Little, and brother-in-law Rodger (Joanne) Fewell. Don's parents Kermit and Julia (Harris) Grimm preceded him in death, as did an infant son who died at birth, brother-in-law, Jack Little, and sister-in-law, Susan Grimm.
It's Been Fun
Hey, everyone; my ride is here. I have to go.
Thanks for a wonderful visit;
I enjoyed it very much.
See you all later.
- Don Grimm
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