John E. Grotberg

John E. Grotberg (March 23, 1925 - November 15, 1986) was a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois.

Grotberg was born in Winnebago, Minnesota, but grew up in Valley City, North Dakota. He attended the University of Chicago and George Williams College, earning a B.S. degree at the latter in 1961. [ [http://www.ulib.niu.edu/reghist/RC%20240.pdf Historical Sketch of John E. Grotberg] from the Inventory of the Grotberg Papers (Collection 240) at the Northern Illinois University Regional History Center] Upon graduation, he was hired by the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to served as financial director. He left his job to enter politics in 1973.

From 1973 until 1977, Grotberg served in the Illinois House of Representatives [CongBio|G000499|inline=1] , and in 1976, he easily won an election to the Illinois Senate. A ranking Republican in the Illinois legislature, he won an election to Congress in 1984 for an open seat in a heavily Republican district. Several months into his term, Grotberg came down with a devastating case of pneumonia. While in treatment, it was also discovered that he had colon cancer. The representative never recovered, dying on November 15, 1986 in St. Charles, Illinois. He was buried in Union Cemetery. [Find A Grave|id=7207125]

References