William K. Grieb

Bill was born to Mary and Gerry Grieb in dear old Oak Park in 1948. He attended Pilgrim Congregational Church, camped and hiked with the Boy Scouts, and learned how to make apple strudel from his German grandmother. In Oak Park, Bill and his parents became dear friends with the Curry, Toppen, and Schoenfeld families. As a child, Bill traveled with his mother back to Scotland several times (once aboard the Queen Mary) to visit her family. Bill graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School, and made it to the Illinois state finals in track.

Bill attended Ripon College, where he ran track and cross country, joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity, and sometimes used his textbooks as sleep aids. His time at Ripon meant the world to him. He made life-long friends, gained brotherhood through DU, and began to see Wisconsin as a second home. Recently, Bill funded a scholarship at Ripon College so that other students could enjoy a similar experience.

After college, Bill worked several jobs in Chicago before deciding to become a Chicago police officer, a career he enjoyed for 22 years. Bill worked in several districts in the city, finishing his career at O’Hare Airport in the Mass Transit Unit. He enjoyed the flexibility, friendships, and camaraderie. His favorite assignment might have been the summer mobile force because he got to ride a three-wheeled motorcycle along the lakefront and be outside on the beach all summer.

Bill and Jean got married in 1979 and had Mary the following year. Bill, Jean, and Mary traveled to national parks from Alaska to Hawaii and visited his family in Scotland and Germany. Bill passed his athleticism on to Mary, and he cheered her on playing baseball at Welles Park, softball in high school, and even recreational sports as an adult.

After he retired, Bill continued to travel across the United States and internationally, including visiting Greece and Turkey during Mary’s time studying abroad. Bill and Jean bought a summer home on Browns Lake in Burlington, Wisconsin. For 20 years, they hosted many friends and family in the beautiful, all-wood home, grilling steaks, brats, and fresh corn for dinner, going for rides on the pontoon, and eating fish fry on Fridays and pizza on Sundays at the Waterfront. Bill also golfed all summer long and faithfully attended German American Police Association events.

An all-weather Bears and Cubs fan, he loved Chicago with his whole heart. His career gave him the opportunity to get to know many neighborhoods. He could find nearly any address in Chicago without a map, tell you the history of long-forgotten buildings, and recommend amazing, classic restaurants throughout the city. Like the rest of us, he never got over Sabatino’s closing.

Bill loved Hitchcock movies, Shakespeare plays, the DePaul Opera Theater, Barbara Tuchman’s histories, and Patrick O’Brian’s novels. He loved cooking and baking. His specialties included

Beef Bourguignon, pies from scratch, and delicious roasts with crispy roasted potatoes. He loved hosting dinner parties for family and friends on holidays.

Though often quiet, Bill was tremendously smart and funny and told great stories about college, police work, his family, and his travels. We will miss his generosity, sense of humor, and kind heart.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jean, daughter Mary, Mary’s partner Karen, cousins Mellis, Julie, and Jill, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and countless dear friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to 100 Club of Illinois, 875 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1351, Chicago, IL 60611 or 100clubil.org.