Alten Frederick Grandt, Sr.

1918 - 2014  (95 years)

• Name	Alten Frederick Grandt
  Suffix	Sr.
  Born	21 Sep 1918	Saint Peter, Fayette Co, Illinois, USA   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Died	14 Feb 2014  [2]
  Buried	1 Mar 2014	Saint Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Brimfield, Peoria Co, Illinois. USA
  Person ID	I6929	Blum Genealogy
  Last Modified	7 Oct 2019

  
  

  Father	Herman Martin Grandt,   b. 14 Nov 1884,   d. 7 Mar 1968  (Age 83 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Alvina A. Horstman,   b. 3 Mar 1883,   d. 18 Mar 1968  (Age 85 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Married	had 6 children
  Family ID	F2492	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ruth Irene Brauer,   b. 20 Jan 1923, Altamont, Effingham, Illinois, USA ,   d. 2 May 2003, Canton, Fulton Co, Illinois, USA  (Age 80 years)
  Married	25 Jun 1943  [1, 2]
  Children	1. A.F. Grandt, Jr.   2. T. Grandt   3. K. Grandt
  Last Modified	7 Oct 2019
  Family ID	F2491	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Alten F. "Al" Grandt passed away on February 24, 2014 at the age of 95. He was born September 21, 1918 near St. Peter, Illinois as the 4th of Herman and Alvina Grandt's 6 children. He married Ruth Brauer on June 25, 1943. She died on May 2, 2003 following nearly 60 years of happily married life. He was raised on his parents' St Peter farm, attended St. Peter Lutheran Grade School, confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in 1932, and graduated from Farina High School in 1936. He attended Illinois State Normal University from 1938-41 until drafted by the army in July of 1941. After completing flight instruction in December of 1942 and receiving his officer commission and wings, he served as an instructor pilot with the Army Air Corp until discharged in December 1945. Following World War II, he obtained his B.S. in Agriculture (1946) and his M.S. in Agronomy (1947) from the University of Illinois. He then conducted a 5 year research program with the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station that led to publication of Experiment Station Bulletin 628, "Reclaiming Illinois Strip Coal Land With Legumes and Grasses." Widely regarded as a groundbreaking publication in the reclamation industry, this study launched his career in land reclamation. He joined Midland Electric Coal Corporation in 1952 and he and Ruth moved to their permanent home located on reclaimed strip mined land approximately 2 miles south of Douglas, Illinois. He held various land management positions with Midland Electric and Peabody Coal Corporation for the next 30 years until retiring from Peabody as Director of Reclamation - Corporate in 1982. He published approximately 40 papers on reclamation and use of mined lands, and was the recipient of several national awards, including the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation 1985 Outstanding Reclamationist, their 1996 Lifetime Award, and 2002 Pioneer in Reclamation Award. Following retirement from Peabody, he continued to farm his reclaimed strip mine acreage, including the last several years with his son, Terry. His many community and church activities included the Yates City School Board, 4H club leader, and Knox County Farm Extension. A member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Brimfield, Illinois since 1952, he taught Sunday School for many years, and held every church office except treasurer. He and Ruth are succeeded by 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren: son Alten F. Grandt, Jr. (Skip) and Barbara nee Rieker in West Lafayette, Indiana; son Terry Grandt and Susan nee Rigg from rural Yates City; and daughter Kathy nee Grandt and husband Bill Schwartz in Grayslake, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brimfield, with Rev. Michael Liese officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 5-7 p.m. on Friday evening and one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday morning. Burial, with military honors, will be at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in rural Brimfield. Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Elmwood is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brimfield. To leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

  
  

• Sources

  [S34] Headstone/Gravestone (entire date). [S79] Obituary.