Robert Lee Grant

Services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West in Columbia, with a one-hour visitation beginning at 1:00 PM and the funeral service following at 2:00 PM. Interment with full military honors will take place immediately afterward at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Bob, a longtime Boone County resident, was born on December 6, 1933 in Boonville to Cecil and Sue (Edwards) Grant. He was the oldest of nine children. He attended the one-room Vawter School in rural Boone County and graduated from Hickman High School in 1951. It was there that he met and later began dating his bride-to-be, Iola Sontag.

After Bob joined the Navy, his relationship with Iola was supervised by Uncle Sam as they courted via mail. They were married on August 18, 1957 and embarked on a lifetime’s worth of adventures that included moving to San Diego, Germany, Washington DC., the Philippines and back to San Diego – all with four children in tow! Bob spent 20 years in the Navy working in intelligence and retired honorably as a Chief Petty Officer, having served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was immensely proud of his country and his Navy and was touched to be able to participate in an Honor Flight years later.

He and Iola returned to their roots in Boone County in 1973. Never one to sit still, Bob found employment with the University of Missouri in Campus Facilities and later the College of Agriculture. He enjoyed this work so much he stayed with the University for 47 years. He was, of course, a big fan of Mizzou sports, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs. Bob was always in motion: he was a lifelong softball player and an accomplished wood carver. In quiet moments, he enjoyed watching a Western on TV or reading about the Civil War. He and Iola spent their winters in Arizona in later years and cherished this time together.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Iola Grant; four children: Mike (Kathy) Grant, Gary (Trisha) Grant, Kathy Love, Kim (Kerry) Henning; grandchildren Megan, Rob, Kyle, Kory, Maddie, BrieAna, Kenzie, Grant; five great-grandchildren; siblings Don Grant, Lois Garrett, Patsy (John) Watt; and a host of loving extended family members and friends.

In addition to his parents, Bob is preceded in death by his siblings James Earl Grant, Russell Grant, Claudia Butzin, Martha Sue Singleton and Mary Lou Ballenger.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Midway Locust Grove Church at mwlocustgrove.com.