Obituary of Edmund Grad

Edmund A. Grad, of Roanoke, died peacefully on July 5, 2013, at his home, just three weeks after he had joined family and friends in a joyous celebration of his 100th birthday - June 13, 2013. Nieces and nephews and their families traveled from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio and New York, as well as from various parts of Virginia, for a party at the Roanoke home of Mary Elyn and Robert McNichols and a "Lake day" at the Moneta home of Susan and Don Jakob. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in Chicago, Ed graduated from high school during the Great Depression. After several years of struggling to find steady work, he was hired by The Belt Railroad in Chicago in 1936 where he worked nights until he was drafted into the Army in April 1941. After Pearl Harbor, he was shipped off to the Pacific Theater. Along the way, he earned his sergeant's stripes; and his regiment followed the Marines onto Guadalcanal, where he earned his combat infantry badge and a Unit Bronze Star. He later was shipped to the Fiji Islands, where he contracted the malaria that would keep him from completing OCS. While he was in a military hospital in Chicago recovering from an attack of malaria, his sister Wanda introduced him to the beautiful Marie Gregory, who soon became his wife. His beloved Marie died in 1988 after Ed had nursed her through a long struggle with Alzheimer's Ed was a life-long learner with many interests: he studied the stock market when he was in his '70's and learned to use a computer when he was in his '80's. Ed loved to sing and was always good company. He especially enjoyed making his young nieces and nephews laugh. Although never blessed with children of their own, Ed and Marie will live on in the memories of their nieces and nephews - as well as those numerous "great and grand-nieces and nephews" - as "Uncle Ed and Aunt Marie". Marie's two older brothers: Ralph and his wife Mary (the "Chicago Gregorys") and Harold and his wife Wilma (the "California Gregorys") each had five children. The "Chicago Gregorys" are: Mary Elyn and her husband Robert McNichols of Roanoke; Susan and her husband Don Jacob of Moneta; Ralph of Boulder, Colorado; Nancy and her husband Frank Wildt of West Hartford, Connecticut; and John Gregory of Roanoke - Uncle Ed's neighbor and constant helper. The "California Gregorys" are: the late Katie and her husband Bill Theil of Idaho Falls; Beth and her husband Ron Panici of Sacramento; Richard of Sacramento; Jean and her husband Michael Baecker of Cedar Ridge, California; and George Gregory also of Sacramento. Uncle Ed's younger brother, Chester, died while on a training exercise during World War II. His younger sister Wanda, who married Jack Monninger, passed away in 2008. Nephews and a niece on the (Grad) Monninger side are Jim and his wife, June, of Lansing, Illinois; Bob and his wife, Beverly, Antioch, Illinois; Dan and his wife, Sharon of New Lenox, Illinois: and Nancy and her husband Brad Jones of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Ed and Marie spent most of their married life in the Chicago area, where Ed worked in a variety of sales jobs. In addition to visiting with and frequently caring for their many nieces and nephews, Ed and Marie spent many of their working years caring for elderly relatives, including Marie's parents. They enjoyed several years of retirement in Sun City, Arizona, and later moved to Hendersonville, NC. After Marie's death in 1988, Ed moved to Columbus, Ohio - where he managed an apartment building until he was well into his '80's - and he then relocated to Roanoke in 1997. Ed was a life-long Catholic and a regular communicant at Our Lady of Nazareth in Roaonke, where a visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Funeral mass will follow at 3 p.m. with Monsignor Joseph Lehman officiating. Mr. Grad's remains will be interred with those of his beloved Marie at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, July 12, 2013. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Amy Elizabeth Lauth Foundation 3333 Peters Creek Road Roanke, Virginia 24019. Online condolences may be sent to www.simpsonfuneral.com. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home 366-0707.