Leroy Edwin Mcgrew

LeRoy Edwin McGrew

LeRoy Edwin McGrew, age 102, passed away at the Putnam County Care Center, Unionville, Missouri on Wednesday, January 29th, 2014.

Edwin was born in the city of Bliss, Lincoln County, Idaho on October 17, 1911, to LeRoy Isaac and Myrtle Mae (Miller) McGrew. His father died when he was four years old and his mother returned to the original family home in Altona, Illinois with Edwin and his sister, Eleanor. Edwin graduated for Altona High School in 1929. He was united in marriage with Irene Elizabeth Youngberg on February 21, 1936 and they began farming near Galva in Henry County, Illinois. Later they moved to Oneida, in Knox County, Illinois where they farmed for 34 years.

They were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Edwin served the church in many capacities but especially enjoyed teaching children in Sunday School. During this time, he attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

Upon retirement in 1979, Edwin and Irene moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where they lived for 27 years. They were active members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. They resided at the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Care Center until Irene passed away in June, 2009. In July of 2013, Edwin moved to the Putnam County Care Center, Unionville, Missouri.


Edwin is survived by his son, LeRoy A. McGrew (Carol) of Unionville and a daughter, Ann E. Gray (David) of Auburn Hills, Michigan. His five grandchildren are Clark McGrew (Lynette) of Kahoka, MO, Laura McGrew (Archie Gobber) of Kansas City, Emily Cremers (Spencer) of Troy, MI, Megan Tucker (Paul) of Alexandria, VA, and a granddaughter-in-law Savanna McGrew of Livermore, CA. There are nine great grandchildren: Rylan and Zachary McGrew of Kahoka, MO, Addison and Ansel McGrew of Livermore CA, Lucia Gobber of Kansas City, MO, Abigail, Truman and Vivienne Cremers of Troy, MI, and Rhys Tucker of Alexandria, VA.


Edwin was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, by his sister, Eleanor, and by a grandson, LeRoy Andrew (Andy) McGrew.


Services to celebrate the life of Edwin McGrew will be held Monday, February 3rd at Playle & Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a service 11:00 a.m. officiated by Rev. Homer Poor. Burial will be in the Altona, Illinois Cemetery at a later date.


Memorials for Edwin McGrew are suggested to the Altona Cemetery and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.





Honorary Pallbearers: Michael Dowdall John Dowdall Clark McGrew Scott Gobber
David Gray
In Memory of Edwin McGrew
The mark he made stayed not in soil,
But in the hearts of those he knew,
Those he fathered, those he grew,
A furrow wide and fertile,
Plowed by Ed McGrew.
---Ed’s son .