Richard A. Grandy, 89
Richard A. Grandy, 89 of Nashua, passed Dec. 24, 2020, peacefully at Cedar Vale Assisted Living in Nashua after battling melanoma cancer.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory - Olson Chapel in Nashua with Andy Schroeder officiating.
For those unable to attend you are invited to please join the family on Facebook Live at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, on the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home Facebook page. For those attending in person, it is strongly recommended to practice social distancing and face masks are required for both the funeral and visitation.
Interment will be held in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua with Stuart Jacobs, Trent Jacobs, Lane Jacobs, Lantz Terrill, Brian Runge, and Scott Schmidt serving as pallbearers.
Friends may greet the family from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory - Olson Chapel in Nashua prior to the service.
Richard Arthur Grandy was born Oct.11, 1931, at home in Floyd county to Velma Schroeder and Glen A Grandy. Later, they divorced and Velma married Conrad Schroeder.
Richard was raised on a farm until he graduated from Plainfield High school in 1949, where he shared classes with Alice Littauer, the woman who would become his wife. and truly the love of his life for over 69 years. After high school, Richard served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955. He was assigned engineman duties on the USS Sperry, a submarine tender, off the coast of San Diego.
While on a short leave, he and Alice were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua on Aug. 24, 1951. He used to tell the nieces and nephews, “no shotguns involved.” Alice then joined him and lived in San Diego until their return to Nashua and Alice’s family farm where the two of them began farming that homestead after the death of Alice’s father. After a farm accident in the early 1970s, Alice became Rich’s right arm in every way. Richard was willing and very open about sharing his farm accident story with classes at school to satisfy the curiosity of little ones, and teach safety!
Richard was appointed postmaster in Nashua in 1985. He was a postal clerk and substitute rural carrier starting in 1963 for Nashua. In 1955-1959 he was a clerk at the post office in San Diego CA. At his retirement, he served nearly 31 years for the Postal Service. He was a Kussmaul seed dealer for years and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Nashua.
Rich and Alice had no children but the eight nieces and nephews got to experience the love that the two of them had to share. There was no one or nothing that Richard and Alice didn’t care for. They had so many interests and collections. Farming, family, neighbors, animals, stamps, machinery, cars, engines, travel, coins, reading, keychains, card games, concerts, meals at restaurants they hadn’t visited before, history, campfires, and the meals around them, and of course…. visiting! There was no person they met that didn’t become a friend of the two of them.
Richard was an active member of VFW, American Legion, and Lions Club. He served as honor guard for countless military funerals. Richard didn’t forget much! As nieces and nephews, we got to hear many stories. Even the day before his death, he had to correct the year in a story his brother was telling.
Richard lost “his Alice” on Dec. 4 and his love for her could wait no longer, and he joined her for Christmas.
Survived by his brother, Alvin (Arlyce) Schroeder of Denver, nieces and nephews, Joan (Scott) Schmidt, Stuart (Theresa) Jacobs, Trent (Lori) Jacobs all of Waukon, Hope (Brian) Runge of Cedar Rapids, Lane (Abby) Jacobs McGregor, Angie Schroeder Denver, Andy (Leaann) Schroeder of Seymore, Indiana, Amy (Lantz) Terrill, of Cedar Falls. Also 16 Great nieces and nephews and one great, great-nephew, and brother- in law Merrill Jacobs of Waukon.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and stepfather, older brother Milton Grandy and his sister Marlys Jacobs.
