James Henry Grommersch, 95, of Brookings, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings. Visitation is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with a liturgical wake service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Rude’s Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, feel free to make donations to the Pius XII Newman Center (1321 Eightth St., Brookings, 57006), May Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota or the charity of your choice.
James (Jim) Grommersch was born on May 25, 1922, in Brookings, the son of Henry and Lucy (Oster) Grommersch. Jim attended Brookings High School and continued his education at South Dakota State University (SDSU) where he received his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1947. His college education was interrupted for four years when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July 1942 during World War II and obtained the rank of major while in the United States Air Force Reserve.
He married Lois Catherine “Kitty” Stanhope on Jan. 24, 1951.
After graduating from SDSU, Jim moved to Dearborn, Michigan, in 1947 and began his career with Dearborn Motors Corporation as a product engineer. Dearborn Motors was acquired by Ford Tractor Company where Jim held a variety of positions until his final promotion to assistant general manager – Sales and Marketing for Ford Tractor Operations Worldwide in 1973. During his time with Ford, Jim was relocated to Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan with the majority of his career in Michigan. Jim retired in 1981 and he and Kitty moved permanently to Brookings in 1990 with a winter home in Mandeville, Louisiana. Beginning shortly before his retirement, Jim began to acquire farm land in Brookings County where he loved to develop shelterbelts and pheasant habitat on the property.
In 2016, he was recognized as Sportsman of the Year by Pheasants Forever for his habitat development efforts.
Jim is survived by wife, Kitty; sisters, June Helsper of Brookings and Donna (Bill) Rook of Fargo, North Dakota; sons, David (Paula) of Delano, Minnesota, Daniel (Debra) of Huntington Beach, California; daughter Margaret Anne (Bob Frey) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; four grandchildren; a great-grandchild along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his brother Darrell and infant brother Richard.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
