Kay L. Mcgrew

Kay L. McGrew, age 72, of Decorah, IA, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2014 in Palm Bay, FL. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with the Rev. John Caldwell officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, one hour before the service, at First United Methodist Church. Kay Lea McGrew was born April 4, 1942 in Boone, Iowa, the daughter of Kennith Clayton and Illa May (Quick) Wiley. At Boone High School she played trombone in the band, was on the Homecoming court, a member of the student council, was president of the synchronized swimming club (since girls were not yet allowed to participate in competitive swimming) and was named an outstanding senior for swimming. She graduated from Boone High School with the class of 1960. Kay attended Iowa State University in Ames where she was a member of the synchronized swim club and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She graduated from ISU with a physical education degree in 1964. Kay began her teaching career in 1964 at Central High School in Davenport, Iowa. It was here that she met Jay McGrew. They were united in marriage on August 19, 1967 at the Methodist Church in Boone. This union was blessed with three children: Kelly, Brent and Laura. Jay and Kay left Davenport in 1969 when Jay took a teaching/coaching position at Luther College. Kay began working as a substitute teacher for the Decorah Schools and was eventually offered a PE teaching position. She worked at the schools until she became pregnant with their first child, Kelly. After Brent and Laura were born Kay went back to Luther and earned her accounting degree. While being a full time mom, she worked part time in various accounting jobs in Decorah. In 1985, she took over the women’s swimming program at Luther and in 1987 she accepted a teaching position at Luther. She continued to teach accounting and coach the Luther women’s swim team until her retirement in 2001. During those years, if you didn’t find her in the pool, you were likely to find her on the racquetball courts or playing bridge with one of her bridge clubs. Since her retirement Kay has enjoyed spending time with her 4 grandchildren, working at the Whippy Dip and being a snowbird in Palm Bay, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents. Kay is survived by her husband, Jay; her three children, Kelly Irlmeier (Phil) of Polk City, IA, Brent McGrew of St. Louis Park, MN and Laura Ritter (Matt) of Maple Grove, MN; and her four grandchildren: Ethan and Evan Irlmeier and Connor and Haley Ritter. Memorial donations may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611-3201 or the Jay & Kay McGrew Endowed Scholarship at Luther College, % Development Office, 700 College Dr., Decorah, IA 52101.