John E. Grotberg
Encyclopedia
John E. Grotberg was a former Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Illinois
.
Grotberg, the fourth of eight children of Bernard and Sophie (Weir) Grotberg, was born in Winnebago, Minnesota
, and grew up in Valley City, North Dakota
. His early career was in music as a singer with The Muny
(the Municipal Opera Association) in St. Louis, and he also performed in Chicago. For many years he managed the Men’s Shop at the YMCA Hotel in Chicago, expanding into public relations work for the hotel, and eventually becoming corporate Director of Financial Development for the YMCA
of Metropolitan Chicago. During this time he also completed his college education at George Williams College, graduating with a B.S. in 1961. He worked for the newly opened Pheasant Run Lodge and Resort as well as performed in their lounge with his wife, Jean. He then was owner and President of John E. Grotberg and Associates, Financial Development Consultants, and General Manager of the Hotel Baker, a retirement home run by the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
A resident of St. Charles, Illinois
, since 1955, and active in many civic and social organizations, Grotberg was an enthusiastic supporter of the fine arts, having been engaged in many musical and theatrical enterprises himself. Among Grotberg’s civic accomplishments were the founding of the Tri-City Youth Project for Geneva, Batavia, and St. Charles (now TriCity Family Services), providing needed companionship and entertainment for area youths, and the Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice.
He left his job to enter politics in 1973. From 1973 until 1977, Grotberg served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives
, and in 1976, he easily won an election to the Illinois Senate
where he served three terms as Illinois State Senator (1977–1985), the last four years of which he was the Assistant Republican Leader. As a ranking Republican in the Illinois legislature, he won election to Congress in November, 1984 for an open seat in a heavily Republican district
, and was a member of the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs and Small Business Committees.
Two bills which carried his mark were an amendment to the Defense Department authorization urging the armed forces to “use domestic equipment when entertaining in federal buildings” (prompted by an observation of a Yamaha piano being used by the Navy Choir at the Capitol) and Public Law 99-202, the Save for the USA Year, which resulted in “the largest number of savings bonds sales in the United States in several decades.” Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
(D - Ohio) tells the amusing story of how she as a “sophomore” and Grotberg as a “freshman” walked right into Senator Strom Thurmond
’s office unannounced and asked for his help to get the Savings Bond bill taken up by the Senate. He complied on the spot; the next day Senator Robert Dole scheduled it for the floor; and on December 16, 1985, 4 days after the House passed the bill, the Senate had too, and President Ronald Reagan
signed it into law.
During much of his political career, Grotberg successfully battled cancer, including experimental treatments at the National Institutes of Health that later became standard therapies throughout the US and the world. As a pioneer patient, Grotberg gave to the future and died at home surrounded by his wife and five children on November 15, 1986. Following a funeral at Baker Memorial Methodist Church in St. Charles (where he had been a longtime member and regular soloist ), he was buried in Union Cemetery. with full military honors. The inscription on his monument reads, “Husband, Father, Statesman, Friend - He was here!”
He was succeeded in Congress by future Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
. Fellow Illinois Republican Congressman George M. O'Brien
too died of cancer just four months earlier.
The Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice named the John Grotberg Legacy Society
to honor his dedication to the needs and dignity of the ill and infirm. On August 18, 1987 the US Post Office Building in St. Charles, IL was named the "John E. Grotberg Post Office Building." The Fox Valley Chapter of VietNow named its center in Batavia the John E. Grotberg Community Veterans Center.]
He was married to Edith Henderson Grotberg from 1947 to 1962 and to Elizabeth Jean Shierling Grotberg from 1963 until his death. He was the father of five children.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Grotberg, the fourth of eight children of Bernard and Sophie (Weir) Grotberg, was born in Winnebago, Minnesota
Winnebago, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,487 people, 641 households, and 398 families residing in the city. The population density was 675.5 people per square mile . There were 705 housing units at an average density of 320.3 per square mile...
, and grew up in Valley City, North Dakota
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
. His early career was in music as a singer with The Muny
The Muny
The Muny, short for The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, is an outdoor musical theatre, located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri...
(the Municipal Opera Association) in St. Louis, and he also performed in Chicago. For many years he managed the Men’s Shop at the YMCA Hotel in Chicago, expanding into public relations work for the hotel, and eventually becoming corporate Director of Financial Development for the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
of Metropolitan Chicago. During this time he also completed his college education at George Williams College, graduating with a B.S. in 1961. He worked for the newly opened Pheasant Run Lodge and Resort as well as performed in their lounge with his wife, Jean. He then was owner and President of John E. Grotberg and Associates, Financial Development Consultants, and General Manager of the Hotel Baker, a retirement home run by the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
A resident of St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
, since 1955, and active in many civic and social organizations, Grotberg was an enthusiastic supporter of the fine arts, having been engaged in many musical and theatrical enterprises himself. Among Grotberg’s civic accomplishments were the founding of the Tri-City Youth Project for Geneva, Batavia, and St. Charles (now TriCity Family Services), providing needed companionship and entertainment for area youths, and the Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice.
He left his job to enter politics in 1973. From 1973 until 1977, Grotberg served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, and in 1976, he easily won an election to the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
where he served three terms as Illinois State Senator (1977–1985), the last four years of which he was the Assistant Republican Leader. As a ranking Republican in the Illinois legislature, he won election to Congress in November, 1984 for an open seat in a heavily Republican district
Illinois' 14th congressional district
The 14th congressional district of Illinois covers a part of northern Illinois, including the cities of Aurora, Elgin, DeKalb, and Dixon, and parts of Henry, Whiteside, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, DuPage and Bureau counties...
, and was a member of the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs and Small Business Committees.
Two bills which carried his mark were an amendment to the Defense Department authorization urging the armed forces to “use domestic equipment when entertaining in federal buildings” (prompted by an observation of a Yamaha piano being used by the Navy Choir at the Capitol) and Public Law 99-202, the Save for the USA Year, which resulted in “the largest number of savings bonds sales in the United States in several decades.” Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
Marcy Kaptur
Marcia Carolyn "Marcy" Kaptur is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1983. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, anchored by the city of Toledo, includes all of Ottawa and Erie counties, and part of Lucas and Lorain counties.Serving her fourteenth term in the House of...
(D - Ohio) tells the amusing story of how she as a “sophomore” and Grotberg as a “freshman” walked right into Senator Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
’s office unannounced and asked for his help to get the Savings Bond bill taken up by the Senate. He complied on the spot; the next day Senator Robert Dole scheduled it for the floor; and on December 16, 1985, 4 days after the House passed the bill, the Senate had too, and President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
signed it into law.
During much of his political career, Grotberg successfully battled cancer, including experimental treatments at the National Institutes of Health that later became standard therapies throughout the US and the world. As a pioneer patient, Grotberg gave to the future and died at home surrounded by his wife and five children on November 15, 1986. Following a funeral at Baker Memorial Methodist Church in St. Charles (where he had been a longtime member and regular soloist ), he was buried in Union Cemetery. with full military honors. The inscription on his monument reads, “Husband, Father, Statesman, Friend - He was here!”
He was succeeded in Congress by future Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
Dennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
. Fellow Illinois Republican Congressman George M. O'Brien
George M. O'Brien
George Miller O'Brien is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a Republican who represented Illinois' 17th congressional district....
too died of cancer just four months earlier.
The Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice named the John Grotberg Legacy Society
to honor his dedication to the needs and dignity of the ill and infirm. On August 18, 1987 the US Post Office Building in St. Charles, IL was named the "John E. Grotberg Post Office Building." The Fox Valley Chapter of VietNow named its center in Batavia the John E. Grotberg Community Veterans Center.]
He was married to Edith Henderson Grotberg from 1947 to 1962 and to Elizabeth Jean Shierling Grotberg from 1963 until his death. He was the father of five children.