March 28, 2024

Honoring the Griers

There aren’t a lot of people in Monroe or even the PCM community that don’t know the Griers. Whether they had Jacki as their ninth and twelfth grade English teacher or Joel as a basketball, track, softball, baseball or soccer coach, the Griers have a long legacy with those who passed through halls in the Monroe and PCM school districts.

The couple was honored for their work in the school district and throughout the community as the Kiwanis Citizens of the Year at the 2019 Monroe Old Settlers celebration.

“We had not a clue,” Jacki said about the award.

Having attended almost every, in not every Old Settlers since moving to Monroe 1973, the couple were happy to have their entire family, including their two sons, Brad and Bret, at their families, together for the celebration. The gathering didn’t clue them in, though, that there was a surprise coming following the parade.

“I thought it was really nice that our kids were going to Old Settlers with us,” Joel said.

“I think they had been there together before but it hasn’t been all at the same time, sitting with us, but I still didn’t think about it,” Jacki said.

In front of their family and friends, the Griers happily accepted the recognition for a lifetime a work in the town they now call home.

“It means a lot because we really care about it,” Jacki said. “We had lived here longer than we lived in Montezuma.”

“This is our hometown,” Joel said.

After graduating from Montezuma, Joel in 1967 and Jacki in 1968, the two continued their education with Joel graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in 1971 and Jacki following in 1972 from Mankato State University. Jacki received her first teaching job at Monroe High School in 1973 and Joel joined not long after in 1977.

They found Monroe to be the perfect location to not only begin their careers but make a home for their family.

“We love the fact that this is a lot like our hometown of Montezuma,” Jacki said. “When we came here to teach, I don’t think it could have been any better of a situation. We were close to Montezuma, we were close to Des Moines and we loved Monroe. We moved here, we wanted to live here, which a lot of people that don’t do that today.”

Students who passed through first the Monroe School District and later PCM got to know the Griers very well. Involved in many areas of the school, students who participated in cheerleading, journalism, a variety of sports, most notably basketball and a variety of other activities throughout the years came to know Joel and Jacki as Mr. and Mrs. Grier.

“Bonnie Lucas was one of my cheerleaders, the first year I was here. It is pretty fun,” Jacki said.

High school seniors fondly remembering crafting their autobiographies and the freshman class learned to love the Bard and the history that went along with each Shakespearian piece Jacki enthusiastically taught. Many were also lucky enough to travel to the home of Shakespeare on the Europe trip lead by the Griers.

Joel taught fifth grade at Monroe Elementary but also saw students at the high school level where he coached about every sport including the 2004 state champion basketball team. He still serves as the boy’s assistant basketball coach and assistant track coach.

Having been in Monroe for more than 45 years, the couple have seen their share of changes. From the school districts combining to create the PCM Mustangs to the expansion of houses in their backyard, they have seen a little bit of everything.

“We’ve seen a few changes. When we built this house, there was nothing here, it was just a corn field,” Joel said. “Now you look and there are houses with more houses to come.”

Avid Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs fans, community members have come to know their personalized license plates stating “PCMHAWK” and “PCMCUBS.” They always get an extra wave, even out of town, when a former student sees the plates.

Joel and Jacki have been long time members of the Presbyterian Church in Monroe and Jacki is involved in PEO and an active member of the PCM Foundation Endowment.

They enjoy walking and biking through the streets of Monroe and it is not unusual to see them picking up litter to help keep the town they love clean. For years, they have been members at Gateway Recreation where they enjoy golfing, even more so now in retirement, especially Joel, Jacki said.

Almost five decades ago the Griers decided make Monroe their home. During that time they not only became a part of the community, they impacted the lives of the thousands of students who passed through their doors.

Monroe is lucky to have citizens like the Griers with their commitment to the town. They are also very happy they landed in the “perfect” town.

“It just can’t get any better,” Jacki said. “It was perfect.”

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com