I met Bill in graduate school at the University of Minnesota in 1966.  The former chairman of the English Department at UMD, where I earned my B. A. in English,  joined the faculty in Minneapolis & , because Bill had worked at UMD, unknown to me, asked Bill to look me up.  We both got jobs teaching English at UW-Stout in Menomonie, WI.  Because of a housing shortage, he let me room with him in his apartment for a few months.  In the photo, he is at my wedding on January 31, 1969.  I inherited two of his classes the year he left.

My name is Linda Chisholm, the wife of the late Scott Chisholm, listed as one of Bill's best friends. For years, I saw "Granse," as we called Bill, at least weekly. In Indiana, he and my husband would go to the local hotel for a drink at the end of the day. In those days Bill loved a drink. My husband sort of adopted him and over the years, he became a part of our family. Our kids thought he was an uncle. Wherever we moved, Granse came to visit---Wisconsin, New York (two cities there), and Utah. Scott took Granse to Canada to visit his relatives and on several other trips. We always had at least one cat and Granse would sit for hours petting the cat and drinking coffee or a Pepsi. 

Granse had a special kind of insight about people and he and I would talk about this. He said he felt he knew when people were sincere or when they were not. He thought he could quickly discern who to trust. I learned a lot about him and about life from him. He was very humble, honest and caring. He had a really big heart and felt injustices to others painful.

And he was so loyal. He never forgot anyone's birthday nor did he stop thinking about any friend. When we talked on the phone, he would always ask about the children and knew how old they were.

Nearly every year, about March or April, he would remind me of the date of his birthday so I could not forget to send him a card. And I do not think I ever did forget.

I feel a great loss of Granse even though I have not seen him for years. We either talked on the phone or wrote several times each year. But he was someone I could not get out of my heart. I so hoped some of his poems could be used in country music as the lyrics are so inclined. Maybe someday that will happen.

I too am most grateful for the love and care of Dick Granse and for his keeping me abreast of what was happening with Bill.
I am very sad for his loss.

I was so sorry to hear last week from Bill Granse's brother, Dr. Richard Granse, that Bill was failing.    And I am glad I had an opportunity to talk to Bill before his passing.     Bill calmly told me "they tell me I am going."    My older brother Sandy (Sanderson M. Smith) had posted his recollections about Bill already on this site.   Sandy's touching tribute has described Bill "as the most loyal and consistent friend I have had during my 78 years on this earth."  I was astounded to read that Sandy and Bill corresponded weekly with for decades. 

Sandy and I and our younger brother, Larry (who plans to represent us at the funeral), knew members of the Granse family since 1950.  In June of that year, if my memory is right about the month, my parents, Ephraim K. Smith and Katherine Sanderson Smith, purchased a house on Washington Road.  It was the third house from the corner of Charlevoix and Washington Road.  The Granse house was on the corner.    In those days, enormous Elm trees provided a high arch over Washington Road.   I can remember trying unsuccessfully to kick a football straight up to try to hit those branches at the top that arched over the street.

My brothers and I saw the Granse brothers as neighbors and friends.  While I only renewed my contacts with Dick and Bill in the last few years,  I considered Bill's brother Dick as my best friend.  We  went to Pierce Junior High and then Grosse Pointe High.  I must say that Bill and Dick were extremely bright .  Dick went on to  become a MD and had a private practice and then a long career with the VA.   And Bill did some teaching and was quite a poet.  

 Like my brother Sandy, I was often over at the Granse house in the 1950s.  Initially, my motives were more selfish than altruistic.   Dick and Bill's father was a prominent member of a highly respected law firm.   My memory is that his firm represented the Lone Ranger (I hope I have the right actor here.)  Not surprisingly, in view of the father's occupation,  the Granses could thus afford to have one of the first television sets on Washington Road.  Granted, it was in black and white in those days and I believe there were only 3 channels with a fourth Canadian channel.  I was frankly not happy to leave my friends in Kingston, Pennsylvania to come to Detroit.  But I had only previously seen the working television screen in store windows.   One of the few consolations was the nearby Lake St. Clair and my learning that a neighborhood kid's family had a television set!   What a treat to sit in the Granse living room and watch television.  And there was an added bonus in 1950 that their cat has just given birth to kittens. 

And then there was Mrs. Granse's cooking.   While my own mother did all her cooking from scratch at that time and I loved her fudge and "seashells" (hamburger and noodles, Mrs. Granse's chocolate chip cookies were to my mind, the best I've ever eaten.  Bar none!!!!!    And when we ate over there as a family with Bill and Dick and his mother (after his father passed on), Mrs. Granse had the best fried chicken I ever tasted.  Once again, bar none.    My mother returned the favor when one of her sons had a birthday.  The Granses came over for prime rib or turkey.  That tradition continued into the 1960s.  

Like my brother Sandy, I remember the Granse-Smith baseball games.   It was family against family  --  Dick and Bill against Sandy and me.  We played half a diamond.   One family member was pitcher and the other the outfielder.  The opposing two member team had to get someone on base first  and then the second family member standing at the plate had to hit him home (or that family member had to run like heck.)   We spent a lot of hours on that diamond by the Richard School.   Wonderful memories.  There was also touch football.  And playing hockey on the table top box set where you turned the handle to make the players swing their sticks.

My most enduring memory is Bill's loyalty.  Anytime any of the Smith brothers went off to school, Bill, if he was in town, was there at our side door to say goodbye.  

I am glad that I had a chance at the end to talk to Bill and share some correspondence.  His poem  "Another Supreme Court" is attached to my filing cabinet.   

Thank you Bill for your friendship.   And Dick, thank you for taking care of Bill all these years.   I hold you in the highest  esteem.  What a great heart you have.

Ephraim K. Smith ("Kochie")

My name is Meg MacDougall, I was a member at the Congregational Church in Sheridan since 1978, I really enjoyed seeing him attend our church when he came in 90's, my condolences to his families are in my prayers.

Dr. Richard P. Granse, Katie and Tom, 
      I am sorry to read of the loss of your brother/uncle. You always had kind things to say about him and after reading of all his accomplishments, I can see why.  Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. 
Sincerely, 
Judy Walker Mead
( your former secretary )

When your longest and most loyal friend passes away, you can cry because he is gone .... or you can smile because he lived.  Yes, I did break down when attempting to tell my wife that Bill was gone ...  but I am grateful that he lived and was a part of my life ... and memories of Bill have brought smiles to my face.

Bill and I met in 1950 when my family moved from Kingston, Pennsylvania to Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  He was 13 and I was 11. Only one house was between our two homes.  Along with my brothers, Ephraim (we always called him Koch) and Larry, and Bill's brother, Dick, we shared years of childhood friendship and experiences.  

As kids, Bill and I did it all:  Together we did good things and bad things, smart things and dumb things, sensible things and things that weren't so sensible.  We laughed together ... and even cried together.  Bill loved my parents and I loved his.  They were good people who praised us when we deserved to be praised, and scolded us when we deserved to be scolded.  

As we  matured, our friendship remained strong.  College days separated us for much of the year but we enjoyed the times we could spend together.  Bill was an usher at  my wedding to Barbara in 1962.  

In 1964 a career move took Barbara  and me to California. Bill and I have exchanged weekly letters since that time and cherished our reunions when Barbara and I made return trips to our home state.  I made the  2-to-3 hour drives from the Detroit area  to Leslie, Mason and Greenville to visit Bill during his residency at these locations.  We had wonderful reunions over lunch, leisurely walks, and shopping trips,  recalling past experiences, events and activities. Bill had a  tremendous memory for people and past events.  I thoroughly enjoyed the many times we strolled down memory lane into events that took place many years ago... with Bill providing most of the details.  

Bill and I were  friends for 66 years.  Without the slightest hesitation, I can say that Bill is the most loyal and consistent friend I have had  during my 78  years on this earth.

Bill, rest in peace, old buddy.  Yes, I give myself brief time to  grieve  because you are gone.  But then I can get myself to smile because you were here.

Sandy

Bill's friends at the Congregational Church in Sheridan express our condolences to his family.

OBITUARY

William H. Granse Jr.

June 11, 1936 – July 6, 2016

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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