James “Roger” Grier of Plymouth WI peacefully passed away at home surrounded by the love of
his family on December 10, 2020.
Roger was born April 10, 1933, in Duluth, MN, to James Claire Grier and Anne (Blakely) Grier.
The family moved to Bemidji, MN, where Roger attended grade school and graduated from
Bemidji High School in 1951. He proudly served his country in the US Army in Korea and then
retired as a Captain from the Minnesota National Guard after serving 20 years. He attended the
University of Minnesota and graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Business
Administration. His newspaper career began at the Bemidji Pioneer where he worked in
advertising and it went on to include management positions at the Duluth (MN) News Tribune
and Herald, publisher of the Trenton (NJ) Times, publisher of the Albany (NY) Capital
Newspapers and Vice President and Group Executive for Newspapers of the Hearst Corporation.
He retired from Hearst and moved to Plymouth, WI, becoming a newspaper management
consultant and traveled the world where, among other things, he helped newspapers in markets
just emerging from communism become financially independent. He finally retired for good at
age 82 after serving on the boards of several family-owned newspaper groups. Locally, Roger
was an active member of First Congregational UCC in Plymouth, holding many positions of
leadership over the years and was a member of the Plymouth Educational Foundation.
Roger’s passion in life was helping others. He strongly believed in the importance of education
and helped many young people achieve their dreams of a higher education. He was a mentor to
many, always listening well and then offering advice and encouragement. He loved living on the
edge of the Kettles and enjoyed watching the many trees he planted through the years grow to be
healthy and tall. He was an avid gardener and regularly spoke to “his babies”, encouraging them
to grow. He lovingly tended his field of poppies each spring – many of the seeds originally came
from Italy, where he first fell in love with them. He loved to travel and made friends in all
corners of the globe. Most of all, he loved his family and was so proud of the people they have
become.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara (Thomson) Grier of Plymouth, his children:
Deborah (Greg) Guy, Fond du Lac, WI, Sandra (Jerry) Bodin, Lake City, MN, Pamela (Kenneth)
Brunini, Nashua, NH, Laurie (Ashot) Geodakov, Bellevue, WA and James (Jessica) Grier,
Plymouth, WI. He is further survived by grandchildren Jeremiah (Kristi) Guy, Timothy (Moltu)
Guy, Rebekah (Chris) Collins, James Grier Brunini, Katya and Sonya Geodakov and Eleanor,
James Bennett and Charlotte Grier, great grandchildren Josh, Caleb, Sophia and Solomon Guy
and exchange students Jasmina Arsova (John Klejnot) and Darko Arsov. He is further survived
by stepbrother Rolf (Peggy) Kolden, brother-in-law Robert (Sue) Thomson, sister-in-law Janet
(Russell) Patience and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Roger was preceded in
death by his parents, his in-laws Dougal and Doris Thomson and stepbrother Marc Kolden.
No service is planned at this time due to Covid-19 precautions. A celebration of life will take
place later in 2021. According to his wishes cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to First Congregational UCC Memorial Fund, Plymouth Education
Foundation or Safe Harbor can be made.
The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family. For online
condolences, please visit www.suchonfh.com.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. George Schroeder, St. Nicholas Hospice,
Home Instead caregivers Brenda, Gloria, Kat, Lynn and Morgan and the staff at Woodland
Village for the compassionate care given to Roger.
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