James C. Grogan

Madison - James Carswell Grogan, age 81, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, died early Friday morning, September 25, of pneumonia and congestive heart failure. A place had been reserved in heaven for Jim, a humble, kind and gentle man to the very end of his earthly journey. He was born on September 14,1928, to Marian (Campbell) and Robert Stanley Grogan, Sr., in Duluth, MN, the fourth child of five, moving with his family to West Bend, WI, where he attended elementary and high school. After graduating from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, Jim served in the Korean War as a S/Sgt in the USAF Security Service. After teaching in Indiana, Colorado and St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI, he received his MS at the UW-Madison School of Library Science and served as a librarian in Wisconsin, New York City, New Rochelle, NY, Scituate, MA, and with the WI Dept. of Public Instruction in Madison, WI. He and Carol Taylor (from Wisconsin) met in NY and were married on October 10, 1964 by his brother (Wells) at his brother-in-law's (The Rev. Albert Fay Hill) church in New Rochelle, NY, with his sister-in-law (Helen Grogan) at the organ; brother (The Rev. David Grogan) as best man, and brother-in-law (A. Fay Hill) as usher. The many children at the reception unforgettably played ""musical chairs."" Jim and Carol returned to Wisconsin in 1968. After an early retirement due to his health, Jim worked at Walgreen's for 25 years. He volunteered with NAMI-WI and NAMI-Dane County (as Librarian) for many years. He loved his church, U.S. history, singing lustily, the great outdoors, all dogs, and classical music. His memory of poetry, plays, and languages was prodigious and legendary. Jim was grateful to his family, friends, and doctors who helped him through several bouts with complex heart problems and depression. Surviving are his wife, Carol; son, Dr. Andrew Carswell (Shari Grogan-Kaylor); and son, Ross, Ann Arbor, MI; daughter, Alison Creath Grogan; and daughters Brittany, Kelsey, Krystal, and Nyla, Madison; brother, Wells (Helen) Grogan, Orleans, MA; sisters-in-law, Barbara (Robert, deceased) Grogan, Boston; Beverley (David, deceased) Hawaii; brother-in-law, Albert Fay Hill (Grace, deceased), Denver; many nieces and nephews; and his cat, Gus. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Virginia (John, deceased) Bresnehan, Tempe, AZ; and brothers-in-law, Robert (Marilyn) Taylor, Akron, OH, and William (Ginny) Taylor, Milwaukee, WI. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, October 10 (Jim and Carol's 45th wedding anniversary) at First Congregational Church. A reception follows at their new apartment home, Greentree Glen, 732 Struck St.,#207, in Madison, hosted by fellow residents there. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to NAMI-Dane County, 2059 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 54704; or First Congregational Church, 1609 University Ave., Madison, WI 53726.