Dean Galen Griggs Obituary
Seattle, Alaska, United States
August 01, 1936 - January 03, 2016
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Dean Galen Griggs Obituary
Aug 01, 1936 - Jan 03, 2016
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Dean Galen Griggs of Juneau passed away peacefully with his friends and family by his side in Juneau on June 3, 2016. He was 79.Dean was born on August 1st, 1936 in Liberty, Nebraska to Gaylord and Beulah Griggs. The family moved to Yakima, WA in 1942. He graduated from Yakima High School in 1954 and immediately entered the US Navy. He served 2 years as a Radarman 2nd class, served on the USS Silverstein and the USS Whitehurst. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He attended Yakima Valley College, studying general engineering; University of Washington majoring in Electrical engineering and University of Alaska Southeast majoring in Arctic engineering. Dean was a Registered Professional Engineer in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.Between 1964 and 1967 he worked for The Boeing Company in Seattle and New Orleans then Huntsville and Cape Canaveral where he served as a Lead Draftsman for the NASA Saturn V launch vehicle service arms and the Apollo access arm. During his time with Boeing he was awarded the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor, awarded for his significant contributions to the first manned lunar landing.In 1970, at the encouragement of his twin brother, Dale, he moved to Juneau. He immediately started working for the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities as a Hydraulic Engineer. He worked on coastal and open channel hydrology and hydraulic design.In 1978, he was named Chief Hydraulic Engineer for the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. He authored the Department's guidelines for federal dredge and fill permits, which was later adopted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.In 1993, he retired from the State of Alaska and founded HydraCon Engineering which specialized in hydrologic/hydraulic engineering. He returned to State service in 1996 as a SE Region Hydraulic Engineer retiring again in 2002 and resumed his private practice on a full time basis.During his time with the State of Alaska, he was a member of the Alaska Public Employees Association. He served as Chairman, Executive Committee; Director, State Administrative Council and was a Delegate for the Alaska Public Employees Association.He married Joanne E. Barott, on December 19, 1976, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Juneau. They have two boys, Beau and Cole.Dean is preceded in death by his father Gaylord and mother Beulah Griggs, brother Eldon, and son Cole Griggs. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Griggs, his son, Beau Griggs (Port Angeles, WA), his sister-inlaw Vivian Griggs his twin brother Dale Griggs and Garry (Vera) Griggs. Mother-in-law Betty Barott and sisters-in-law Gayle Erickson, Susan Barott (Roger Gantner), Joyce Barott (Jerry Jaskowiak), Leanne (Jim) Luschen, and many nieces and nephews.A memorial service and reception is scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th at 5:30 pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church. In lieu of gifts of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate to Juneau Pioneer Home. Cards may be sent to PO Box 35561, Juneau, AK 99803.
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