John D. Grace

Dr. John Dale Grace’s life was distinguished by his wit, integrity, drive for adventure, spirited dedication to teaching, desire to seek knowledge of science and compassion for others.

John was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 6, 1933 to parents of Irish decent Elizabeth (Ahlers) and William Grace. He was the youngest with two older sisters Lila and Mary who doted on him. John’s family owned Willson dairy where they produced cottage cheese and ice cream. His father’s life was cut short by a heart attack when John was just 16. John attended school at Norwood High school where he undertook college preparatory courses. He helped out at the Dairy, played varsity sports including football, volunteered at the YMCA and served as president of both the Athletic association and National Honor Society.

In 1951, John enrolled at Denison University, a small Liberal Arts College in Central Ohio. His extracurricular activities included intramural and varsity sports, dramatic society and membership in Sigma Chi fraternity. Summers were spent working: as a Fire Control aid for U.S. Forest Service; Field survey crew for Smithsonian Institute; Crew for supply delivery by plane to Alaskan small towns; Counselor at Father Danfey’s Boys Home in Alaska.

In 1955, John entered Penn State University for Master of Science in Mineralogy and Petrology. As a graduate research assistant he worked on an Atomic Energy Commission Project concerning the Mineralogy and Petrology of the Chattanooga shale. He joined Sigma Gamma Epsilon, a Geology Society.

Upon his graduation in 1957, John accepted employment as a Geologist with Carter Oil Company and “learned Geology through the soles of his feet.” He loved the field work, but not the company social politics. Education was where he truly wanted to be.

In 1960, John was off to Leeds University in England as a Research Assistant in the department of Chemistry and to earn his Doctorate. After graduating in 1963, John set off to see the world. He traveled all the countries of Europe, preceded to Yugoslavia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, and a brief stop in Hawaii before returning to accept a Geophysicist Research position at UCLA.

California was the home of sun, and beaches; John became a certified scuba diver in 1965. He loved the ocean and the unique world of underwater plants and animals. In late 1966, John accepted a teaching position in the department of Earth Science at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. While on a weekend trip to visit a friend, John fell in love with Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University. In 1967, he accepted a teaching position in the Geology Department at WMU.

Throughout and between all of John’s education, travel, adventures and positions, he always returned home to his family in Cincinnati. Family was important to John.

In 1977, John was introduced to Harriet (Kelly) through a mutual friend Linda Harrison. She invited them to travel with 4 couples to visit the Museums in Chicago. Something sparked between these opposites and a romance began. On June 6, 1979 the two were married and shared 33 years of love and mutual respect. Their life together was spent traveling, with exceptional friends, at lively parties and much laughter. John and Kelly had a profound tenderness and passionate affection for each other, an intimacy that often drove them to hold hands throughout the night. Kelly had three children Dean, Diane and Dale Ann from a previous marriage that John loved dearly and they returned that love.

The next 20 years saw John teaching and Kelly operating Cork Lane Decorating Center. There were trips abroad to many countries around the world. They traveled out West to attend Geological conferences, and rock and mineral shows in Arizona.

John was quick witted and a prankster, always finding ways to create laughter. He was not only great at telling a joke, but acting them out with proper dialect. John excelled at story telling of all his adventures (and some that were made up), but he captured the attention of all.

John wore his academic regalia in Dean and Dale Ann’s college graduations from Western. Through the years he did Research at Leeds, UCLA and Cambridge Universities, and Sabbaticals at Argonne National Laboratories, Chicago, IL. He enjoyed University sponsored field trips to the Grand Canyon and other places and hosting local field trips for the Geological Society of America.

In 1984, John walked Dale Ann down the aisle and a few years later the Grand Children Adam and Chad joined the family. John enjoyed time with his grandsons; teaching them about rocks, how to catch a wave on a boogie board, and how to skip a stone. Grandpa helped the boys build a tree house with a sign “No girls allowed” and that included mom and grandma! Each summer John and Kelly took an adventure with their Grandsons; from rafting trips through the Grand Canyon, St. Louis - baseball, Washington D.C. – Langley Air Force Base, to the beaches of Hawaii and the Bahamas.

After 30 years at Western Michigan University, John retired “Professor Emeritus.” He remained active with the University, teaching summer courses. His thirst for knowledge continued, he enjoyed reading text books (for fun) and taking classes at KVCC. John enjoyed spending the winter months in the Bahamas with his wife and friends where he snorkeled and spent hours walking the beach. John’s interests were varied; he belonged to the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, and the Kalamazoo Rock and Mineral Club. He loved aviation and volunteered as a Docent at Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

On Sunday May 6th, John celebrated his 79th birthday with a family brunch. In the afternoon, he volunteered at the Air Zoo and helped take down the exhibit at the Rock and Mineral show. He was on his way home when he fell and hit his head at a gas station. John suffered a traumatic brain injury and later developed pneumonia. John passed away at the age of 79 surrounded by family on May 21, 2012.

Visit with John’s family and friends on Friday , May 25th from 10 AM-12 Noon at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, Telescope Project. Please visit John’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook before coming the funeral home.