If Bernie Grimm, former alderman, wasn't feeling the love before; he certainly was during a ceremony Monday honoring the bespectacled man for his years of service in the Wauwatosa community.  

In 1972, electrician Bernie Grimm was sworn in as a fourth-district alderman.

Grimm would hold that seat for more than three decades before losing to challenger Dennis McBride. 

At the ceremony, a small, but lush civic garden was dedicated in the name of Bernie and his late wife Shirley at 74th and Blanchard Street, adjacent to his home. This was not much fanfare, but a huge gathering of family, well-wishers, fire and police officers and past and present elected officials. Former Wauwatosa Mayor James Brundahl attended. 

Alderman Joel Tilleson, who spearheaded the idea for the dedication, was on hand to hold the ribbon along with Aldermen Tim Hanson, Ernst Franzen, Matt Stippich and Alderwoman Kathleen Causier along with Wauwatosa Mayor Kathy Ehley. 

Grimm Civic Garden 

Ehley spoke near the plaque, which read," This space is dedicated to the public service of those elected and those employed by the citizens of Wauwatosa, and those family members who support them in that public service, as exemplified by the 36 years of representation by Alderman Bernie Grimm, from 1972-2008, and his wife Shirley Grimm, whose home was located immediately adjacent to this parcel during the entire tenure of that service to this community." 

Bernie said the garden will allow him to watch everyone; he joked that in winter the rocks will be heated. While the crowd laughed, he quipped the money for it would be under the rocks. 

Ehley pointed out the importance of family members to elected officials and how dedicated loved ones are. 

"As elected officials, we take on this role, but it is really the family who gives up a lot of their time with us so we can do this," said Ehley.  

Over the 36 years, Shirley took care of the Grimm family while her husband was alderman. 

Following a similar path

Three generations of Grimm men have either served in the city or followed his line of work. 

His son Ron worked in the public works department collecting and was president of a neighborhood watch from 10 years. 

Ron and his son Brad are a part of Tosa Skateboarders United; a group that helped create Tosa Skatepark. 

Brad is currently interning in the engineering department for the city. He attends the University of Wisconsin-Stout for construction management.

"He (Brad) is a lot further than I was at that age," Ron laughed. 

Both generations are thrilled Bernie is being honored and find it heartwarming.

"It gives him (Bernie) a warm spot of feeling that he is still relevant, involved and important," said Brad. 

Giving his proper due

As alderman, Bernie recalled, it meant being nuts a lot of the time. It wasn't unheard of for him to jump on his moped with a milk crate on it to zoom over to a resident in need. His phone was always ringing and he didn't want to miss a call, Bernie said. 

When he received complaints about trash, sometimes would go pick it up himself. 

During the Tosa floods of 1997, he helped haul damaged items from homes, mop basements and sterilize cellars. 

To this day, he is 90 years old and still snowblows the neighborhood sidewalks. 
Through his years as alderman, he was seen as someone who always stood for his constituents. Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber said Bernie is an honest guy and straight talker who always knew what was going on in the city. 

"Some people at the time didn't give him a lot of creditability, but he knew what was going on because he talked to people," Weber said.

Weber said Bernie would always vote for what his constituents wanted even if Bernie didn't agree. 

Alderman Ernst Franzen, a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist and editor, has known Bernie for a long time. He said Bernie was constituent-oriented. He recalled from his days a journalist that Bernie was forthright and honest.  
"I love people; that is why I ran (for office)," Bernie said. 

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