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Lester O. Grandt, 86, of St. Peter, died at 7:26 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in St. Peter, with the Rev.William Emrick officiating. Burial with military rites was in St. Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. on Friday at Pagel Funeral Home in St. Peter and one hour before services on Saturday at the church. Memorials: St. Peter's Lutheran Church general fund, Lutheran Care Center or donor's choice.
Mr. Grandt was born on Nov. 3, 1923, the son of Herman M. and Alvina Horstmann Grandt. He married Beatrice L. Krug on Feb. 8, 1948, at Augsburg Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Shobonier.
He was a progressive and innovative farmer, and a certified seed dealer. He was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, American Legion Post No. 380 in St. Peter and Illinois Foundation of Seed. He helped found the basketball program at St. Peter's Lutheran School, along with coaching for several years.
Lester held several church and school offices over the years, and in 1994, he was instrumental in helping to plan the 125th anniversary celebration of the church. He served in the Army's 17th Airborne, 82nd Division and 508th Paratroop Infantry during World War II.
He is survived by his wife; sons, Lyn Grandt and his wife Trudy of Kankakee, Reg Grandt and his wife Kathy of St. Peter, and Kim Grandt and his wife Carmen of Florence, Ky.; daughters, Melody and her husband Jim Norman of Farina, and Missy Doyen of Maryland Heights, Mo.; brother, Alten Grandt of Farmington; sisters, Hermine Grandt and Wilma Schaal, both of Altamont; 12 grandchildren, "Dirty Dozen"; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Norman; and sister, Leona.
[Leader Union,
Vandalia, IL, March 2010] |
[courtesy of "Donalou"]
Grave marker for Lester
grandt and spouse in Saint Peter Lutheran Cemetery, Saint Peter (Fayette
county), Illinois
Pfc Grandt was transferred
from 82nd Airborne Division to Hq 2nd, 508th PIR on 13 October 1945. |
