Dana Joseph Grignon Sr., 68, of Neopit, passed away on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, at St Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.
Dana was born on Dec. 29, 1946, to the late Jerome and Sunday (Tourtillott) Grignon in Shawano. He grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation and attended Shawano High School. In 1964, at the age of 17, Dana enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his service, he served on presidential and other highly regarded foreign dignitary security details. Dana was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During his four years of service, he served two years foreign sea service with tours in Trinidad, Italy and Spain. Dana, a Vietnam era veteran, specialized as a rifleman sharpshooter and received the National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1968.
On Oct. 25, 1969, Dana was united in marriage to Marilyn Soman in Neopit. They had three beautiful children. Dana, an energetic and charismatic man, was a loving and devoted father, husband, brother and friend. After serving his country he went on to serve his tribal nation as a police officer with the Menominee Tribal Police Department. After his commitment to the protection of his tribal nation, he came to find a lifelong passion for logging and truck driving. He drove for logging contractors, including his father, Jerry Grignon, as well as Vyron Dixon, Lee White, Lee Davids and Chauncey Webster. He retired from the logging industry in the early 2000s.
Dana enjoyed spending time with his children and later grandchildren, teaching and guiding their lives’ paths. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing baseball and softball for the Gresham Gophers, and listening to Elvis Presley’s many hits. In his free time he liked nothing more than spending time and telling stories with friends and fellow Marines. He and Marilyn loved to travel and were known to frequently travel to Memphis, Tennessee, and Florida to visit friends.
Dana, a devoted Catholic, was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Neopit.
Dana is survived by his children, Dana Grignon Jr., Neopit, Denise (Kerry) Madosh, Keshena, and Darlene (Jim) Welk, Gresham; grandchildren, Michael (Sam), Neopit, Amanda (Blaze), Minneapolis, Minnesota, Daniel (Natasha), Lucas, Kerry Jr., Trevor, Jerome and Delvin, all of Keshena; and two great-grandchildren, Daeson and Aaliyah. He is further survived by his siblings, Connie Waupoose, Neopit, Sharon Waupoose, Keshena, Dr. Jerilyn Grignon, Neopit, Robert (Arlene) Grignon, De Pere, Guy Grignon, Neopit, Mary Grignon, Neopit, Loretta McPherson, Neopit; and many nieces, nephews, godchildren, other relatives, friends and his beloved dog Sparky.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Grignon; a great-grandson, Kerry III; his parents; siblings, Carol, Joan, James, Jerome, Michelle, Stanley and Arlene; as well as in-laws, Phillip, Irwin, Mary Pat, Sandy and Sonny.
A funeral service for Dana will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Neopit with full police and military honors. Military rites will be conducted by the Veterans of the Menominee Nation. Visitation will be held at the Neopit Community Center until the time of the service on Tuesday.
Swedberg Funeral Home is assisting the family.
“Semper fi”