The Life of WILLIAM ROBERT GRANT

William Robert Grant of Clive, Iowa died on July 24, 2020 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. He was born to Rush and Edith Grant in Sioux City, Iowa on October 26, 1928.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, August 6th at 10 a.m. at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.

He is the husband of Loraine Grant, his college sweetheart, whom he married August 12, 1951. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1951 with a BS in Industrial Economics. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

Following his graduation, Bill was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army – Artillery and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Carson, Colorado. He was sent to Korea as an artillery forward observer – a position in front of the infantry and artillery, calling for firing missions and air support during operations against North Koreans. Since the death rate for forward observers was high, Bill was flown on a commercial airliner to Japan as a needed replacement in Korea.

After his discharge from the Army, he joined Swift and Co. and served in various management positions. During his 35-year career, he worked in various locations including, St. Paul, MN, Stockton, CA, Clovis, NM, Rochelle, IL, and eventually returned to the Des Moines plant.

Bill is survived by his wife and three children, Stephen Grant, Nancy Scott, and Brian (Ruth Ann) Grant; six grandchildren, Matthew and Peter Grant, Andie and Ian Grant, and Adam and Kate Scott; nephews, Jeff and John Cochran; niece, Diane (Ed) Torres; sister-in-law, Sally (Jerry) Cochran; and ex-daughter-in-law, Jill Hughes, whom he considered as his daughter.