Jim Grant

Jim Grant, age 82, of Adair, IA, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024 at his residence.

Jim was born in Audubon County on August 19, 1941, to John and Emma (Rydl) Grant. He was the firstborn of three children and spent most of his life on the farm. He was baptized and confirmed into St. John’s Catholic Church in Adair. He grew up and attended a country school south of Adair. He attended Adair High School, where he graduated in 1959.

After school, he joined the Army National Guard, where he attended basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, MO, and was stationed for six months at Ft. Dix, NJ. After the service, he drove the truck and worked road construction, building the interstate. Jim met the love of his life at the Adair Bowling Ally, where Karen Gettler worked as a waitress.

Jim and Karen were married on July 31, 1965, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey, IA. Following their wedding, they lived in Lincoln, NE, where Jim worked for CBQ Railroad. While living in Lincoln, they added Jeffrey to the family on April 22, 1967. Since he was color-blind and unable to become an engineer and the house rent raised to $100 a month, he decided to move back to Iowa and farm with his dad. And as he said, he had gotten used to a regular paycheck, and the only farming job that provided a paycheck was milking cows.

Upon moving back to Iowa, he worked in road construction and added Joanne to the family on October 15, 1969. While waiting for the dairy parlor to be built, he worked for several years at Oakland Meat Packing in Oakland, IA, and at Andrews Roofing in Atlantic. He was also farrowing sows at that time. Once the parlor was built in 1974, he devoted his life to milking cows twice a day. On January 23, 1979, Jason was the final addition to the family. In addition to the dairy cows, Jim ran farrow to finish hogs for a time. Jim often went to exotic animal auctions and would come home with something interesting. The farm had peacocks, peahens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guineas, chickens and donkeys. After retiring from milking in 2009, he focused on crop farming and raising stock cows.

He became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair and finally a member of Holy Cross Lutheran in Anita. He was a Mid-American Dairymen’s Association member, a delegate, and a Farm Bureau member, and he received the Century Farm Award. He is also remembered as loving the Iowa State Fair, farm sales, farming, and his deep love for his family.

Jim is survived by his wife Karen, sons Jeff (girl-friend Lisa Wahlert) and Jason, daughter Joanne (Bill) Byars, grandchildren Will (fiancé Hallie Orr) and Alyssa Byars (fiancé Jacob Robinette), sister Margaret (Steve) Nelson of Plymouth, MA. Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law Mary, Donnie (Rini), Delmar (Marie), Dean (Sharon), Sheryl Nichols, Daryl (Sherry), Dave (Kristen), and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents John and Emma Grant, daughter Debra, brother Larry, brothers-in-law Dennis and Duane.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Casey, IA. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Casey. A luncheon will be held following the committal service at the Adair Community Building.

Open visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Grant Family; they will be designated to many of Jim's favorite local organizations and charities. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair, IA, is handling the arrangements.