Mark Grams, MD, 68, formerly of Glencoe
Mark Leon Grams was born in Glencoe to Lester Carl Martin Grams and Esther Amanda Marie Klukas Grams on the 16th of July 1950. He was their first and only son. Mark had one sister, Jean Marie Grams Berquist. His parents and sister preceded him in death. The family was active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stewart, MN. He graduated from Stewart High School in 1968, attended Mankato State College, and went on to graduate from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1975. Dr. Grams was always a exceptional student.
Dr. Grams was 68 years, two months and 18 days old when he passed away at his ranch in Elfrida, AZ. He had been in and out of the hospital during the summer with heart and kidney issues. In August, assisted by hospice and several caregivers, Dr. Grams was finally able to return to his ranch where he wanted to spend his final days. He enjoyed the ranch and being able to see the legacy of his work in his orchard, his grape vines, gardens, pond and alfalfa field.
Even though Dr. Grams had been ill, he was able to proudly complete the University of Arizona Master Gardener Course. He had a great deal of satisfaction learning new methods of growing plants and trees. Especially excited to learn how to graft trees. He enjoyed the new friends he made and his volunteer time spent at the garden in Sierra Vista. Dr. Grams especially enjoyed playing Santa Claus last year at their Christmas party. He always had a green thumb when it came to growing things. Dr. Grams especially enjoyed flowers that he remembered his mother had in her garden as he was growing up on their farm in Minnesota. Hollyhocks, roses and zinnias were some of his favorites and grow abundantly on the ranch.
Being able to go home from the hospital and hospice facility he was able to see all the steers, horses, chickens, the rooster, his cats Jinx and Grits, and the family dogs, especially his best companion, Belle Boyd, his loyal and faithful dog. Dr. Grams’ life was always busy and full following his 30-plus year profession as an emergency medicine physician. He helped countless people. Dr. Grams was named as one of Phoenix, Ariz.’s top emergency medicine doctors. He and his wife, Janet Weatherholt Grams, had also been foster parents to over 20 medically challenged children over several years.
Dr. Grams was a loving and giving son, brother, husband, stepfather and friend. He had a passion for planes, trains and automobiles that developed at an early age. He earned his pilot’s license and he enjoyed buying and selling cars. Lots of cars. Mark Leon Grams was a gentleman with a kind soul who loved life, people, animals and nature. He was a common sense man with a calm voice that was nonjudgmental. Dr. Grams was loved and well respected by all who knew him.
He often spoke of the respect he had for the elderly physician gentleman who was his cadaver in medical school. He said he learned so much from him that he too wanted to help a medical student learn as he had. Dr. Grams graciously donated his body to the University of Arizona Medical School Willed Body Program in Tucson, AZ. A memorial service is planned at the conclusion of his donation. Dr. Grams suggested that donations could be made in his memory to the Tombstone Small Animal Shelter in Tombstone, AZ. or the Elfrida Public Library in Elfrida, AZ.
He will be missed by many whose lives he touched.
