Grado, Dr. Louis M.

Following a very full and well lived life, Dr. Louis M. Grado, 86, was called to the Lord on July 16, 2010, with loving family at his side at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 11, 1924, the son of Carlos and Lupe Grado. After finishing high school in Deming, New Mexico, Louis served in the New Mexico National Calvary before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. While in the Navy, he served in the Pacific, achieving the grade of 2nd Class Petty Officer. Following his military service, Louis enrolled in and graduated from New Mexico State University where he served in the Army Infantry Reserves, was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and received the rank of Captain.

Dr. Grado completed his postgraduate work at Northern Colorado University and the University of Iowa where he attained a Master's and Ph.D. He taught in the public schools in the state of Washington, at the University of Northern Iowa, and at Eastern Illinois University. At Eastern, he taught for 39 years as a professor and served as the chairman of the Department of Elementary, Junior High, and Special Education for 25 years. He served on many university committees as well as the Illinois State Board of Education's Spanish Speaking Committee and Bilingual Advisory Board.

He married Lucille Huibregtse on April 13, 1952, in Monticello, Iowa. He is survived by five children, Dr. Gordon Grado and wife, Mary, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Dr. Charles Grado and his wife, Dr. Ruth Macke, of Cedar Rapids, Dr. Rebecca Surber and husband, Dr. James Surber, of Lisle, Ill., Jana Richards and husband, Paul, of Vandalia, Ill., and Abigail Grado of Litchfield, Ill.; and 10 grandchildren. His beloved wife, Lucille, as well as his parents and an older brother, Carlos, preceded him in death

Dr. Grado and his family served two years in Nicaragua for the State Department, establishing schools, upgrading teacher education, and developing and producing an educational television program for preschoolers.

He continued to touch many lives after retirement and was active in many volunteer activities including Presbyterian churches in Mattoon, Illinois and Cedar Rapids. His volunteer work included serving as a counselor to Hispanic inmates at the Vandalia Correctional Center, constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at various soup kitchens, and greeting visitors at St. Luke's Hospital. He enjoyed visiting with his children and grandchildren, going to the theater, traveling, reading, keeping up with Rush Limbaugh and the news, and breakfast at Hy-Vee. His most frequent question to his children was, “What have you done today to make the world a better place?” He was a gentle, kind and caring soul.

Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at