James ‘Jim’ Richard Grant, a lifelong resident of Lincoln, passed away at the age of 91 on November 8, 2016 at High Plains Care Center. He was the son of James Roy Grant and Paula Wilhelmina (Joeckel) Grant, also of Lincoln. His maternal grandfather, Tobias Joeckel, born in New Orleans to German immigrants, was a Lutheran minister in Garland, Nebraska. Jim had two siblings, Marjorie Jean (Grant) Turner and Robert Frederick Grant, who have preceded him in death. Born October 16, 1925, Jim attended Randolph grade school, Irving Junior High School, and Lincoln High School, where he met the love of his life, Barbara Ann Polite.
Upon high school graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Jim enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1944 and served his country honorably in WWII at sea in the Philippines aboard the SS Wendell Phillips in the Signal Corps. At the conclusion of the war, Jim returned to Lincoln where he and Barbara were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral on December 28, 1949. After graduation from the University, Jim taught high school and then soon began a life-long career in industrial electrical sales. Together Jim and Barbara raised their four beloved children and made a beautiful home on Harrison Avenue, where they lived their entire married life. Jim was a talented musician, playing piano from his early teens well into his 70’s, playing the great jazz standards of the 40’s and 50’s, mostly by ear. Their neighbors enjoyed hearing his music as they walked past the house. Jim played golf at Pioneer Golf Course and hunted pheasant with his close friend, Bob Patton, and enjoyed many summer fishing trips with his father and brother on Fish Hook Lake in Park Rapids, Minnesota. He was a member of Isaac Walton League, Ducks Unlimited, and a life-long member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Jim loved and enjoyed a very close relationship his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Barbara (Polite) Grant, who passed away in 2010, and daughter Barbara Joan (Bobbie Jo Grant) Morford, who passed away in 2011, and long-time friend and cousin Robert Edward Lee Joeckel. He is survived by children Patricia (Grant) Wade, Paula (Grant) and H. Dan Smith, and James R., Jr., and Amy Grant; grandchildren Carly Morford; R. Dan and Jane Elizabeth Smith; and Louise Mary and James R. Grant, III; longtime friend and cousin, Michael McGill, cousin Patrick McGill, and nieces and nephew.
Visitation with family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday (11-13-16) at Roper and Sons.
Celebration of life funeral services to be held at Roper and Sons Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street at 1:00 p.m. Monday (11-14-16); and the Service of Christian Burial on Wednesday (11-16-16) at 1:30 p.m. Redeemer Lutheran Church, 510 S. 33rd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Memorial Park c/o Lincoln Parks Foundation, Cedars Home for Children, and Redeemer Lutheran Church.