Marjorie "Mimi" Grana Deem

Mimi grew up across from the park in the Clifton Heights neighborhood of South St. Louis with her sisters Maria and Paulette. Their father Dominic “Migo” Grana was the son of Sicilian immigrants and their mother Marjorie Dumas was of Swiss-American ancestry. Mimi was an active outdoor kid, always on her bike in the summer and sled-riding or ice-skating on the Clifton Park pond in the winter. But her childhood wasn’t all leisure. Together with her sisters and Grana cousins, Mimi worked from a young age at Grana’s Market, the family store on the edge of The Hill at Macklind and Magnolia. It was here where she learned the value of hard work, community, and how to make the best use of food slightly past its prime.

Mimi walked to Mason Elementary school as a child where her mother taught as a substitute teacher. At Southwest High School she met her future husband, Dave Deem, and graduated in 1968. Mimi continued her studies at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau. After college, Mimi and Dave moved back to St. Louis to start their life-long careers in public education. They eventually married and raised three children; Jason, Jessica, and Marcus.

Mimi’s teaching career with St. Louis Public Schools began in 1972 at Roosevelt High School, followed by Roe, Kennard, and Long School. She eventually landed at Farragut Elementary School in North City where she stayed for over twenty years. Mimi taught Physical Education at Farragut for students in kindergarten through 8th grade and in 1991, she formed the school’s first tennis team utilizing the courts at nearby Fairground Park. Mimi had a gift for connecting with students, especially those who needed a little extra nurturing and forged a life-long bond with her Farragut co-teachers.

In 1996, Mimi transferred to the newly opened Compton Drew Middle School and in 2002 she co-founded a bicycle club where students trained on the Forest Park bike path in preparation for longer 70+ mile overnight adventures to destinations like Jefferson City and Elsah, Illinois.

In 2008, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote: “After 35 years with the St. Louis Public Schools, Deem - "the bike lady" - is retiring. Deem's legacy, the students say, was instilled in scores of Compton-Drew students over seven years in Forest Park, on the Katy Trail and the road to Elsah. In recalling Deem's contributions, the Bike Club invoked character and perseverance, commitment and dedication.”

Mimi loved the outdoors; hiking, camping, swimming, biking, gardening and canoeing. As a teenager she was a camp counselor at Sherwood Forest Camp and later the camp’s program director. In their 20’s and 30’s Dave and Mimi frequently floated Missouri’s scenic waterways in a Grumman aluminum canoe, and later added a second canoe for their growing family. In retirement and after the passing of her husband, Mimi spent much of her time on the Huzzah Creek where she purchased and restored an old farmhouse with a wrap-around porch in Crawford County, Missouri. She enjoyed spending time and traveling with her kids. In May 2025, she went on the trip of a lifetime to visit her cousins in Sicily with all three of her kids, and her sister Paulette’s family.

Mimi loved cooking and especially baking. She will be remembered for her homemade pies, dozens of cookies and her signature lasagna that she served every Christmas Day for over 45 years.

Mimi is survived by her three children Jason Deem, Jessica (Elijah Thimsen Ph.D.) Deem and Marcus Deem; two sisters Maria (late James M.D.) Minikel, and Paulette (Chris Dougan) Grana; sister-in-law Emma (Burt Gruchy) Deem; brother-in-law Douglas (Chris) Deem; nieces Laura Minikel, Julie Minikel-Lacocque, Carrie Minikel, and Bridget Dougan; nephews Connor Dougan and Liam Dougan.

Visitation will be held at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109, US, on June 4, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary on June 5, 2026, at 10:00 am, and a Committal Service at Sunset Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 10180 Gravois Rd, Affton, MO 63123, US, on June 5, 2026, at 11:15 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Fairground Park for All, a non-profit organization working to restore Fairground Park in North St. Louis to its former glory and a provide safe, clean, engaging outdoor space for kids of all ages. More information at fairgroundparkforall.org.