Obituary Record

Leslie Irl Jr (MD) Grace
Died on 10/15/2010

#1 Printed in the October 19, 2010 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

(veteran)

Leslie I. Grace Jr., M.D.

Dr. Leslie I. Grace, Jr., 86, of Blair, died Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at First Lutheran Church in Blair.

Leslie Irl Grace, Jr. was born Oct. 18, 1923, at home in Woonsocket, S.D., to Leslie and Bernice Grace. Following graduation from Woonsocket High School, he rode his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to Rapid City, S.D., where he attended the School of Mines to study engineering. After three semesters, with World War II underway, he went back home to help on the farm.

A congenital eye condition kept him out of WWII, but after the war was over, he was allowed to enlist in the Army. Testing showed that he belonged in the Medical Corps. He served as a laboratory technician and spent most of his time in Nagoya, Japan. Upon his return, he attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion.

He married Ardis Jensen from his hometown on Aug. 26, 1951. The couple moved to Omaha, where he completed medical school at the University of Nebraska.

The family moved to Blair in 1955 and joined Dr. Howard and Dr. Sievers at the clinic located on Lincoln Street. At that time, the hospital was located at Mary Allen's home. The delivery and operating rooms were located on the second floor and, oftentimes, they had to carry Dr. Grace's patients up and down the steps. After the current hospital was built, Dr. Grace and Dr. Sievers bought some land from Good Shepherd and built the Blair Clinic next door to the hospital.

Dr. Grace practiced medicine in Blair for 35 years and delivered more than 3,000 babies.

Dr. Grace was a member of First Lutheran Church, Blair Lion's Club, the American Medical Association, the Nebraska Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and was a faculty member of the University of Nebraska Medical School, teaching medical students in training at the Blair Clinic. He was a member of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, and the AOA Medical Honor Society. He served as chief of staff at Memorial Community Hospital, president of the Burt-Washington County Medical Society, and president of the Nebraska OB/GYN Society. He was physician coroner for Washington County and a member of the Mental Health Board. He was an avid supporter of Dana College, and the Good Shepherd and Crowell nursing homes.

Following his retirement in 1989, Dr. and Mrs. Grace spent their winters in Arizona. Dr. Grace enjoyed golfing, his family, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, playing cards, his practice, going to Las Vegas, fishing and hunting.

He is survived by his wife, Ardis; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Larry Sorensen of DeSoto; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Jackie Grace, and Tim and Colela Grace, and Jay Grace, all of Blair; eight grandchildren, Jesse and Eric Sorensen, Ashley and husband Brian Brown, Leslie Daren Grace, Shawn Cole, Lizzy Woldruff, Hannah and Abby Grace; six great-grandchildren; his brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Ila Grace of Chandler, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Mavis Grace of Huron, S.D.; brother-in-law, Jack Hyde, of Huron, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Leslie Dean; brother, Ernan Grace; sister, Carolyn Hyde; and nephew John Grace.

Memorials may be directed to Memorial Community Hospital, First Lutheran Church or Good Shepherd Home.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

#2 Printed in the October 17, 2010 Omaha World Herald

Grace, Dr. Leslie I.

Age 86

Blair. He is survived by his wife, Ardis Grace, Blair; daughter, Cindy and Larry Sorensen, DeSota; sons, Don and Jackie Grace, Tim and Colela Grace, Jay Grace, all of Blair; brother, Ernest and Ila Grace, Arizona; 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren. Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, at First Lutheran Church, Blair. Visitation will be held at Campbell Aman Funeral Home Monday beginning at 12 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials suggested to First Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd or Memorial Community Hospital. Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#3 Funeral leaflet

Dr. Leslie I. Grace, October 19, 2010

Memorial Service for Leslie “Doc” Grace
Processional Hymn: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound
Message: Pastor Mike Knudson
Solo: In the Garden Medley
“Doc” Grace Remembered: Dr. Bagby
Hymn: Borning Cry
Recessional: Amazing Grace
Officiant: Pastor Mike Knudson. Organist: Clare Cowing.
Soloist: Susan Bensen
Honorary Pallbearers: Jesse Sorensen, Eric Sorensen, Leslie Daren Grace, Shawn Cole, Keegan Cole, Brian Brown

Friends and relatives are invited to the fellowship hall for lunch following service

~~~ Obituaries and Funeral leaflet courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Note: burial in the First Lutheran Columbarium, in the garden walls in front of the church

FindaGrave # 119284305

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 10/19/2010


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