Obituary of Grant W. Widmer

Life Sketch for Grant Widmer

 

     Grant W. Widmer was born on June 9, 1942 in Montpelier, Idaho, to George Louis and Margaret Widmer.  He grew up in the small town of Geneva, Idaho, with two brothers and four sisters.

     Grant learned to drive the tractors and help milk the cows on their farm at a very young age.  He attended Geneva Elementary school where there were two teachers with four grades in each classroom.  The older kids would do a lot to help the younger kids learn.

     Grant graduated from Montpelier High School where he was active in the Future Farmer’s of America Club and was elected to be the vice president his senior year.  He also played basketball all four of his high school years and ran track events.

     After graduating in 1960, Grant moved to Logan, Utah, to attend Utah State University.  He was called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served two and one half years in Switzerland—German speaking.  His parents would sell one of his sheep or range cows to send him the money he needed to pay for his mission expenses.

     After returning home, he continued attending Utah State University where he joined the reserve police force and worked as a security guard on campus.  He also did custodial work in the Engineering Building in the evening to help with his expenses.  He received his Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts Education.

     During the summer of 1966, while attending summer school, Grant went on a college sponsored hike in Logan canyon. There was a young lady whose name was Colleen Hirschi who also went on the hike.  Her grandparents were Grant’s closest neighbors in Geneva.  They began dating and were married on September 10, 1968 in the Logan LDS temple.

     Since Grant already had a motorcycle, their first purchase was a Honda 150 motorcycle for Colleen so they could go riding together.

     After completing their education in 1969, they moved to Gresham, Oregon, where Grant taught manufacturing and welding at Gresham High School for the next thirty years. He also taught night classes for Mount Hood Community College.

     During the summer months, the family would return to Geneva so Grant could help his father on the ranch.

     Grant and Colleen have five children. Mike in Paradise, Utah; Tiffany Rinne in Brookline, Massachusetts; Angela Kearsley in Gilbert, Arizona; Kimberly Grant and Krista Griffiths in Mesa, Arizona.

     Grant and Colleen served two missions at the Pioneer Historical Sights in Wyoming.  The first was at Sixth Crossing and the second at Martin’s Cove.

     In 2010, they moved from Oregon to Arizona, and in 2012, they bought a home in St. Charles, Idaho, and became snowbirds.

     Grant has always been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He spent many years working in the Boy Scout program.  He has also served in the Bishopric, the Elder’s Quorum Presidency, the Stake Young Men’s Presidency, as a member of the High Council, as a Stake Missionary, and in various teaching positions.  Grant and Colleen also served for many years as service missionaries at the Bishop’s Storehouse in Arizona.

     Grant has always loved sports, camping, skiing, canoeing, and traveling.  He and Colleen had many opportunities to travel after they retired from teaching.  They have been able to visit many foreign countries and have traveled with family and friends on several cruises.

     Grant was a creator.  He could build or fix pretty much everything.  His creative mind made life with him very interesting and led to many “Grant Stories” that we all still love to hear over and over again.  His sense of humor was unique.  He always made everyone around him have fun and feel happy.  In his later years when dementia began to take hold of his mind, it was difficult for the family to witness, but he never complained, and he always had a smile and hug for us.

     But most of all, Grant was a family man.  He loved his family dearly and would do anything for them.  Grant passed away peacefully on the morning of April 6, 2024 in Gilbert, Arizona. He is survived by his wife, five children, nineteen grandchildren, and soon to be, six great grandchildren.  He is loved beyond description and will be sorely missed by his family until they can all be together again!

 

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