Gerald L. Grib

Gerald “Jer” Louis Grib, 86, of Geneseo, passed away with his family by his side until the very end, on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Clarrissa Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, IA.  A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025, at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo.  Father Daniel Gifford will officiate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  The memorial visitation will be held before the funeral service at the church, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.  Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory will be assisting the family.  Memorials may be directed to Clarissa Cook Hospice House, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

Jer was born on August 31, 1938, in the Brighton Park area of Chicago to the late Louis and Anne (Valicka) Grib. After graduating from Fenwick High School in 1956, he attended Lewis University and was employed by Commercial Union Ocean Group as a casualty underwriter. He was employed there until he joined Paco Corp in 1965 and retired from Paco in 2005.  After retirement, he and Barb sold their Oak Forest home for forty years. They retired to the country - Geneseo, IL, a small-town paradise with a population of approximately 6000, which is surrounded by cornfields.

In 1957, Jer’s sister Barbara (Campbell) introduced Jer to Barbara Derk and on February 6, 1960, they were married at St. Daniel the Prophet parish in Chicago.  They were blessed with four children.  Jer was a diehard White Sox fan through thick and thin, mostly thin.  He loved bowling with his bowling team.  He loved golf and fishing, especially at Port Clinton on Lake Erie for walleye in the spring and smallmouth bass in the fall.  His favorite was the annual trip to Way Damn Inn in Michigammi in the U.P.

Jer was active in the Oak Forest Raider football program and as a manager in the Oak Forest Little League program.  He loved woodworking and wood refinishing.  On Sunday after mass, he would be in his garage with the polka music blaring and the saws, sanders, and routers humming.  If the grandkids were around, they would dance to the polkas. 

Jer and Barb loved to hunt for treasures at flea markets, especially Kane County and Spoon River.  They also enjoyed their trips to Las Vegas and Cancun with their friends Al and Joan.

In addition to his loving wife, Barbara Grib of Geneseo, survivors include children, Deborah (Kenton) Wolfe of Geneseo, David Grib of Janesville, CA, and Christopher (Rebecca) Grib of Covington, OH; grandchildren, Larissa (Tyler) Hynes, Evan Wolfe, Lauren Grib, Christopher Grib, Mariena Grib, Drew Grib, Alyssa Grib, Kelsey Grib, Jessica (Zach) Ryan, and Reiley Grib; and great-grandchildren, Kira Montejano, Delaney Grib, Eva Grib, Zoe Avalos, Zena Avalos, and three great-grandsons on the way.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anne Grib; son, Jeffrey Louis; sister, Barbara Campbell; and grandson, Derek Grib.