Obituary for Kathleen "Sis" Bush-Grogan (nee Gill)
Kathleen “Sis” Bush, 88, devoted mom, wife, Grandma “Sissy”, and honored great grandmother died peacefully on Monday, January 6th, 2020. Surrounded by her family, she left us as graciously and gracefully as she lived her life, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Preceded in death by her parents, John and May Gill; husband, Walter L. Bush, Jr.; beloved sisters, Patty Jeub and Joanne McGraw and former husband, James M. Grogan.
Survived by her 5 children: John Grogan, Maureen Warner (fmr. son-in-law Ted Warner), Sheila Grogan (Val DuVernet), Jim Grogan, Mike Grogan (Lauri). She was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Conor Loughridge (Deirdre), Ted Warner (Lauren), Meghan Loughridge, Molly Warner (Alex Couch), Katie Cowling (Dale) Atley Loughridge, (fiancée Jacob Knipfing), Emily Smits (John), Gavin Loughridge (fiancée Catherine Gobel) and 6 great grandchildren: Noah, Blaise, and Artemis Loughridge; Sloane and Gwenyth Warner, Owen Cowling. Also survived by 18 loved nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends who were all an important part of her captivating life story.
A 1948 graduate of Academy of Holy Angels, she enjoyed many roles in stage productions and upon graduation, attended St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul. From there, she began a successful career as a fashion model and commentator in the Twin Cities area – gracing the pages of newspapers and magazines, local and national TV commercials and Industrial films. She was a familiar face in iconic Dayton’s print ads for many years, oft times with her children joining her. Sis was proudly crowned the first Miss Edina, and was a Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes Princess. She was selected as one of the original hostesses in 1956 for the opening of what was the nation’s very first indoor shopping Mall – Southdale Center in Edina. Her photo is still in the halls of Southdale to this day.
While raising her 5 children, she flew the world with her former husband Jim Grogan, always the gracious hostess and excited about a new global adventure. She was as at home on a ski slope as a timer for her kids races as she was walking a runway with the season’s latest fashion trends. Her connections in the ski world ran deep and for many years she coordinated the Women’s Day Ski Program Events at Buck Hill. Following mom to Buck Hill every week helped to hone all our skiing skills! In the early 70’s, this busy working mom co-founded a Fashion Marketing and Modeling PR Business, commentating and coordinating runway shows around the Twin Cities for two decades.
In 2006, she married Walter L. Bush, Jr. and they shared many years together traveling the world representing USA Hockey and residing in Naples, FL until Walter’s death in 2016.
We all knew her outer beauty – it was hard to miss. But it was her inner beauty, her beautiful soul, that truly shined as she courageously faced life’s transitions - including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Her faith grew deeper and stronger through the years and she found renewed inspiration by the profound power of prayer, the healing power of forgiveness, and an abundance of joy as she greeted each day. Her years in her Bible Study Fellowship were transformative. She unselfishly lived her mantra “Let Go…and Let God”. And in the end – always true to her word – that’s exactly what she did.
Her family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful staff at The Waters and all her Joyful Companions who devoted themselves to her daily care – physically, socially and above all, spiritually. Your kindness, and ability to help shine a light on the delight in each day with dignity, was extraordinary.
And many thanks to Jennifer and Steve Benson and Camille Schultz for their years of love and support for Mom and Walter both in Naples and Minneapolis. Our family is forever grateful for the immense peace and trust you tenderly provided for mom and her entire family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 24th at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23rd from 5 – 7 at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 5801 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis. and 1 hour prior to Mass on the 24th.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or donor’s choice.
www.GILLBROTHERS.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 612 861 6088
Preceded in death by her parents, John and May Gill; husband, Walter L. Bush, Jr.; beloved sisters, Patty Jeub and Joanne McGraw and former husband, James M. Grogan.
Survived by her 5 children: John Grogan, Maureen Warner (fmr. son-in-law Ted Warner), Sheila Grogan (Val DuVernet), Jim Grogan, Mike Grogan (Lauri). She was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Conor Loughridge (Deirdre), Ted Warner (Lauren), Meghan Loughridge, Molly Warner (Alex Couch), Katie Cowling (Dale) Atley Loughridge, (fiancée Jacob Knipfing), Emily Smits (John), Gavin Loughridge (fiancée Catherine Gobel) and 6 great grandchildren: Noah, Blaise, and Artemis Loughridge; Sloane and Gwenyth Warner, Owen Cowling. Also survived by 18 loved nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends who were all an important part of her captivating life story.
A 1948 graduate of Academy of Holy Angels, she enjoyed many roles in stage productions and upon graduation, attended St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul. From there, she began a successful career as a fashion model and commentator in the Twin Cities area – gracing the pages of newspapers and magazines, local and national TV commercials and Industrial films. She was a familiar face in iconic Dayton’s print ads for many years, oft times with her children joining her. Sis was proudly crowned the first Miss Edina, and was a Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes Princess. She was selected as one of the original hostesses in 1956 for the opening of what was the nation’s very first indoor shopping Mall – Southdale Center in Edina. Her photo is still in the halls of Southdale to this day.
While raising her 5 children, she flew the world with her former husband Jim Grogan, always the gracious hostess and excited about a new global adventure. She was as at home on a ski slope as a timer for her kids races as she was walking a runway with the season’s latest fashion trends. Her connections in the ski world ran deep and for many years she coordinated the Women’s Day Ski Program Events at Buck Hill. Following mom to Buck Hill every week helped to hone all our skiing skills! In the early 70’s, this busy working mom co-founded a Fashion Marketing and Modeling PR Business, commentating and coordinating runway shows around the Twin Cities for two decades.
In 2006, she married Walter L. Bush, Jr. and they shared many years together traveling the world representing USA Hockey and residing in Naples, FL until Walter’s death in 2016.
We all knew her outer beauty – it was hard to miss. But it was her inner beauty, her beautiful soul, that truly shined as she courageously faced life’s transitions - including a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Her faith grew deeper and stronger through the years and she found renewed inspiration by the profound power of prayer, the healing power of forgiveness, and an abundance of joy as she greeted each day. Her years in her Bible Study Fellowship were transformative. She unselfishly lived her mantra “Let Go…and Let God”. And in the end – always true to her word – that’s exactly what she did.
Her family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful staff at The Waters and all her Joyful Companions who devoted themselves to her daily care – physically, socially and above all, spiritually. Your kindness, and ability to help shine a light on the delight in each day with dignity, was extraordinary.
And many thanks to Jennifer and Steve Benson and Camille Schultz for their years of love and support for Mom and Walter both in Naples and Minneapolis. Our family is forever grateful for the immense peace and trust you tenderly provided for mom and her entire family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 24th at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23rd from 5 – 7 at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 5801 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis. and 1 hour prior to Mass on the 24th.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or donor’s choice.
www.GILLBROTHERS.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 612 861 6088