Wendell Charles Grimm

Wendell (Windy) Charles Grimm was born February 12, 1930 in Creighton, Nebraska to Harry
Leonard Grimm and Lillian Marie (Macklin). The 3rd of 12 children Windy's family moved from
Nebraska to Wyoming to find work in the Great Depression. Windy quit school after the 6th
grade to help support his younger siblings. He said that when he told his teacher he had to quit
school she made him promise her one thing, “that he would learn one new thing every day.” She
told him he would educate himself if he did that one thing. Windy would share this challenge
with his grandchildren. It proved to be true in Windy's life as he would get his GED and tested
for an associates degree after the promise made to that teacher became a pivotal factor of his
life.
Windy joined the US Army and served in Japan for three years during the Korean War as a
guard and medic. The highlight of Windy's time in Japan was being selected for the General’s
Guard. When Windy returned from Japan he met and fell in love with Ellen Valeria (Val) Shimitz.
They were married on July 3rd 1954. Windy and Val had six children, three girls and three boys.
His grandson Aaron best described his grandfather, “he was a race car driving, country
traveling, ornery man who taught everyone that each day is a gift and an opportunity to learn, to
teach, to love, and to live.” Windy was not one to turn away from hard work. He had a variety of
jobs along with the Army Reserve, pumping gasoline, repairing cars, and eventually retired from
the Union Pacific Railroad.
Windy was always fascinated by cars and started ¼-Mile drag racing. When he was given the
opportunity to purchase a Hudson stock car he began oval track racing in Cheyenne. The
Hudson was a hard car to pass on the curves and gave Windy great joy and challenged the
younger men. The Hudson gave way to another car, that was painted as a checkerboard. The
desire to race was infectious as his oldest son ‘Little’ Windy would take to the track as well.
Bryan followed as part of the pit crew along with various family members and friends..
As his children grew up he traded stock car racing for camping and spending time with his
family. After retiring from the railroad he and Val joined the increasing number of Snowbirds,
people who would spend their summers at home and Winters in warmer climates. He and Val
made that trip South to the coast of Texas for 20 years. Windy served as the Wyoming State
Director of Good Sam for many years. He and Val traveled extensively around the state and
attended many similar events in surrounding states. He kept a promise to his children and
when he became that ‘old man in the baseball cap who everyone else had to watch out for’ he
would quit making the trip South and in 2013 they sold their motorhome and moved into their
current residence at the Landmark. Windy was an active member of First Christian Church. He
taught Sunday School and served as a church leader for many years.
Windy is survived by his wife, Valeria, of 65 years, three children Linda (Jim) Savell, Raymond
(Deanna), and Arlene (David) Flood, 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, three great-great-
grandchildren and his sisters, Norma, Rose. Lois, and Twila. He was preceded in death by
his three children, Wendell (Little Windy) , Bryan, and Robin (Grimm) Jones, his parents and 7
siblings.