Retired Marysville Municipal Court Judge, Michael J. “Mike” Grigsby, 73, longtime resident and civil servant of the Union County community, passed away Wednesday afternoon, January 31, 2024, at his home.
One of four children, Mike was born July 7, 1950, in Kenton, to the late Union County Common Pleas Judge Joseph B. and Rachel E. (Johnson) Grigsby. A 1968 graduate of Marysville High School, he began his college career as a graduate of St. John’s University in Minnesota, before earning his master’s degree in education from the College of St. Thomas. Before beginning law school, he spent 2 years as an elementary school teacher at a local Catholic school in Minnesota, then graduated with his law degree from Hamlin University School of Law.
Once he returned to the Marysville area, Mike began his lifelong career of serving the citizens of Union County. He began on the Marysville City Council as Councilman-at-large from 1981-1985, where he was also President of the City Council for three years. In January of 1986, he became the Marysville Law Director and Municipal Court Prosecutor until the end of 1999, when he was elected as the Marysville Municipal Court Judge, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.
Through the years, Mike was a member of the Ohio and Union County Bar Associations, and he previously served as a trustee of the Union County Board of the American Red Cross, Union County Community Improvement Corporation, and for the Union County Law Library. He was also a former alternate member of the Logan, Union, Champaign County Planning Commission, as well as a former associate member of the Union County Township and Trustee Association. While civically minded, he also enjoyed holding memberships with the local Elks Lodge BPOE 1130, the Marysville Moose Lodge #1651, the Marysville Eagles #3506 and was a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
As a young man, Mike loved to go fishing, shooting, and hunting, and for a longtime he enjoyed bicycling. A man of great faith, he was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church here in Marysville. Very fond of history and a frequent traveler, his favorite destination spot was to visit the beauty of Ireland. And while he spent his life dedicated to Union County, he most enjoyed and loved any chance he could get spending time with his nieces and nephews, and he deeply missed his parents, whom he greatly admired and loved.
Mike is survived by his siblings, Mary Catherine Langevin of Farmington, Minnesota, Thomas G. Grigsby of Marysville, and Teresa Ann (Dr. Jay) Loftsgaarden of Altoona, Wisconsin; 8 beloved nieces and nephews; and the many friends he made throughout his lifetime. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Joseph, and Rachel.
Calling hours will be 4-7 pm Friday, February 9, 2024, at Ingram Funeral Home, 975 N. Maple St, Marysville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 am Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1033 W. 5th St., Marysville, with Father Kevin Kavanagh officiating. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes cemetery next to his parents.
In Mike’s memory, contributions may be made to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Grove, FL, 33073; or to St. Joseph Indian School, 1301 N. Main St., Chamberlain, SD, 57325.
Ingram Funeral Home is honored to serve Mike’s family, and condolences may be expressed to them at www.IngramFuneralService.com.