Kenneth Ray Grimes

Sadly, we must announce the passing of another great man of our time, our dad, Ken Grimes. He was the Mr. Brady to our mother’s Mrs. Brady (Teri Grimes). In 1977, a widower with four children married a widow with six children and combined them into one house, one family. A house that never had its door locked or its kitchen closed due to the comings and goings of the family and their friends. Our family was The Brady Bunch in real life; and what a family it was! He was from a small town in Tennessee, and served as an Air Force radio operator in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, during the Korean War. Later, he built a career in Southeast Michigan as an outstanding hospital supply salesman. He retired in Hilton Head, South Carolina, living in a beautiful golf community for more than twenty years. More than anything, he looked forward to our family reunions in Hilton Head with his children and his nineteen loving grandchildren. We all enjoyed it but for Ken it was like Christmas was coming. Getting to spend a week with our family is what he loved more than anything (except maybe his 4 holes-in-one)!! Above all he was selfless, compassionate, and giving. He loved and cared for all ten children and while he gave guidance when needed, many times he let the kids find their own way. He smiled through real life episodes that could have been Brady Bunch scripts. Nothing brought a smile to his face more than seeing everyone enjoying their time together and having a good time. We all have our favorite memories and stories to tell... ask us about them. Three weeks before he died from complications of Parkinson's, many of us were at the zoo and the circus (quite fitting). Although it was hard for him to express his feelings, we all knew that he loved and appreciated us. On Wednesday, April 12, 2017, surrounded by his children and grandchildren (whether in person or in spirit), he found peace. A memorial service for the amazing Ken Grimes will be held at Orchard United Methodist Church, Farmington Hills, Michigan at 10:30 am on Monday, June 19. Interment will follow at Ottawa Park Cemetery, Clarkson, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the National Parkinson Foundation in his honor will help cure this devastating disease. www3.parkinson.org/goto/kengrimes He will be greatly missed. Love to all from the very blessed, Grimes-Kocher family