Funeral service for CW2 (Retired) Grimur "Mac" Magnusson will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Timothy Wangerin officiating.

Private interment will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.

Friends may view from 8 a.m. to Noon Wednesday at the funeral home.

CW2 (Retired) Grimur "Mac" Magnusson, age 86, Lawton  passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Lawton-Ft Sill VA Center where he had been living since May of 2011.  "Mac" as he preferred to be called, was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland but always dreamed of living in America. In 1948, at the young age of 18 he fulfilled his dream, immigrating to the US and enlisting in the Unites States Army. In 1954, he became a United States citizen.  His esteemed military career spanned postings in Guam, Japan, Greenland, Rhode Island, Italy, Germany and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He served a tour of duty in the Vietnam War in 1967 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. His many decorations also include: Army Commendation Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Battle Stars and many other commendations too numerous to list.

After 20 years in the military, Mac retired in 1969 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, having declined the promotion to CW3 as it meant having to be away from his family for another tour of Vietnam.  In 1974 he joined the Civil Service and spent another 20 years in service to his country. In total, Mac worked for the US Government for 41 years.

After retirement he pursued a college degree at Cameron University and proudly graduated alongside his beloved wife, Lou, in 1982.  In 1994 he became Chairman of the Veteran's Council where he was instrumental in the creation of the National Veterans Cemetery and the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center, two of his aspirations of which he was extremely proud and which serve an important place in the Lawton/Ft. Sill area.

He is survived by his 3 children: Donna Magnusson of Raleigh, NC, Dr. James Magnusson and his fiancé, Melanie Brady of Norman, OK, and Disa Magnusson Colton and her husband Paul Colton of Joplin, MO. He has 4 grandchildren: April Belanger, and her husband Steve Belanger of Poteau, OK,; Amber Weatherford and her husband Michael Weatherford of Austin, TX; Jaime Magnusson of Moore, OK, and Jake Magnusson of Norman, OK.  His Icelandic family: Maria Petrina Ingolfsdottir, Kolbrun Arna Villadsen and Ingolfur Freyr, along with their children.

His beloved wife of 60 years, Mary Louise Kraus Magnusson preceded him in death.

We ask in lieu of flowers, please give a donation to the National Association of American Veterans: naavets.org and to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation: act.alz.org.