Michael Graham McGuire

Michael Graham McGuire passed away peacefully on August 4th in Saint Joseph Township, Wisconsin. Born November 20, 1928 in Minneapolis, Mike grew up in Mankato and St. Cloud, served in the U.S. Army in Europe, attended the University of Chicago and later, the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. Upon graduating from architecture school, he moved to New York City, where he threw himself into the vibrant 1950's art and music scenes-cementing his lifelong love of folk, blues, and jazz. In 1957, he married Juliann Halvorson in Tuxedo, NY, and the couple moved back to the Midwest and settled in the St. Croix River Valley, where they built a house on the river, raised their three children, and found an extraordinary community of artistic kindred spirits that launched countless friendships and projects. Mike started his own architectural firm in Stillwater, Minnesota, which later became McGuire/Engler/Davis Architects. Among Mike's many notable architectural projects in and around Stillwater were the Desch Building, Dock Café, East Bank Townhomes, the Brick Alley, Wild River State Park, as well as many private residences in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Mexico, California, and Hawaii. He also repurposed the 100-year-old Commander grain elevator in Stillwater, where he kept his office and studio for many years.

Mike's was a grand, complex, exuberant American story. His lust for life was both inspiring and contagious. He was forceful, opinionated, stubborn, funny, self-deprecating, generous, boundlessly curious; a perfectionist, connoisseur, and collector-of pottery, textiles, art, and interesting and talented people. He was a man who loved (some) people, but also valued his solitude, which he filled with books, music, drawing, painting, and staring into fires. He was also, though, a splendid and wide-ranging conversationalist, a devoted father, a treasured friend, and an adventurous traveler. The house he designed in 1962, and where he raised his family and lived for more than 60 years, was his true home and a museum of all he loved. That he would die anywhere else was unacceptable, unthinkable, and non-negotiable. Thus, of course, Mike died at home, triumphant to the end, if not particularly happy about the nuisance of death (even at 95, he was still insistent that he had so much living to do).

A list of all the things Mike loved would fill a fat volume. A list of all the things he did not love (or like) would likely fill another. Short list of the former: Music (he was a closet boogie-woogie piano player), poetry, tennis, good food, good scotch, stray cats, Big Ideas, and quixotic schemes. He raised his three children to love music and beauty, instilled in them curiosity, independence, responsibility, a fierce work ethic, and his own combination of toughness and tenderness. He painted for much of his life, and produced hundreds of paintings that characteristically-if inexplicably-he resolutely refused to sell and seldom showed to anyone outside of friends and family. They were, however, so extraordinary that friends did occasionally steal them.

Mike was truly larger than life and one of a kind, and he will be missed by all who loved him.

Mike was preceded in death by his ex-wife, Juliann (Halvorson); parents, Charles Graham "Popo" and Edithbelle "Speed" McGuire; and brother, Charles Bartlett (Catherine) McGuire.

He is survived by his children, Sally (Bill Huth) McGuire-Huth, John (Deb) McGuire, and Kate (Brad Zellar) McGuire; grandchildren, Ben and Kenzie Huth, and Reed and Lily Hoffmann; nephew, Patrick (Jessica) McGuire, sister-in-law, Sally O'Connell, and longtime companion, Catherine Flowers.

A celebration of Michael's life will be held on Sunday, August 25th, from 1-5pm, at Bradshaw, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd., Stillwater. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred (Suggestions: the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway or Twin Cities PBS). You can check out some of Mike's art and architecture at michaelgmcguire.com.