Richard "Dick" Grill

Richard “Dick” Allen Grill was born October 4, 1939, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He was welcomed by his parents, Walter and Edna Ruth Hatfield Grill and his sisters, June and Joan. He attended Sacred Heart parochial school and graduated in 1957. Richard went on to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, where he majored in Math and graduated a computer nerd. His first job was at Westinghouse in Eau Claire. In June 1975, Richard married Suzanne Jungbauer, the sister of a coworker. They then moved to Minneapolis, where Richard went to work for Carlson Companies as a system analyst. They were blessed with two children, Alan and Rebecca. The couple divorced in the 90s. Richard helped a variety of large corporate businesses prepare for Y2K transitions starting in 1996 and retired because of health in 2001.

Richard was Sacrastine at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis from 1995 through 2002. It was here that Wendy was a Wedding coordinator and Liturgical assistant. Together they worked through many special liturgies and celebrations. The Basilica became an important part of RIchard’s community and interest. He was noted to have tripled the “candle budget” and found new ways to light the liturgical spaces that are still used in celebrations.

Following his health diagnosis of heart failure and COPD and was given the expectation of a terminal diagnosis, Wendy and Richard moved back to her hometown of Luverne, Minnesota in 2003. With the excellent assistance of Dr. Crabtree, he was able to bring that diagnosis to a very livable lifestyle which gave him 23 more years of life that weren’t expected.

Richard decided to take a part-time job that would be in the service industry. For four years he worked with CCSI caring for special needs people. It was an opportunity to share his caring spirit and become acquainted with the Luverne community. He welcomed the visits of neighborhood children and many of them will smile and remember Richard as traveling the bike trails with his scooter simply to enjoy the scenery and people. Dick took his last ride in his electric chair just two weeks ago.

On Thursday, June 21, 2026, RIchard died while at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne at the age of 86 years.

Richard is survived by his brother, Ryan Grill of Eau Claire; wife, Wendy of Luverne; two children, Alan Grill and Rebecca Grill Cigarrero; three grandchildren, Elena Cigarrero, Isabella Cigarreo, and Evelyn Grill; step-daughters, Phoebe Johnson Flom and Robyn Johnson Flick; step-grandchildren, Keegan Schoenfelder, Bergin Flom, Madi Flom; and grandchildren by association, Ember Stratton, Khloe Visker, Opheila Visker and Cameron Visker. All of his grandchildren gave him joy and hope for a beautiful future. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Edna Grill; and sisters, June Grill Egan and Joan Grill.