Grant M. Willmert, 98, of Glencoe
Grant “Bumps” Markhanna Willmert, 98, of Glencoe, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Glencoe Regional Health Services Hospice Care Unit.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m., at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Glencoe with the Rev. Michael Fritz officiating. Lon Roach will be the organist. Congregational hymns will be “My Country, Tis of Thee,” “Just As I Am” and “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.”
Military honors will be by Glencoe American Legion Post 95 and Glencoe VFW Post 5102. Honorary urn bearers will be Grant Olson, Cameron Olson, Scott Bloom, Mark Willmert, Todd Willmert, Clark Bell and James Bertoncin. Interment will follow the service in the Glencoe City Cemetery.
Grant “Bumps” Markhanna Willmert was born May 23, 1918, in Blue Earth, the son of Silas Ludwin and Gladys Eveline (Morgan) Willmert. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in his faith as a youth on April 29, 1929, at Evangelical Church in Blue Earth. He received his education in Blue Earth. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 27, 1944, and served his country during World War II. He received an honorable discharge on Dec. 26, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, as a radar man third class.
On June 11, 1939, he was united in marriage to Melva Thrush by the Rev. H. Hiller at the Evangelical Church parsonage in Blue Earth. The couple made their home in Blue Earth until 1949, when they moved to Glencoe. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Barry, Sharie and Patti. The couple shared over 59 years of marriage before Mrs. Willmert’s death on Aug. 10, 1998.
Mr. Willmert worked in the Glencoe area for 56 years. He transferred from the Blue Earth Green Giant Company to the Glencoe plant, where he was the warehouse superintendent. He then owned and operated Willmert, Inc., a trucking company and, in 1978, he and his son Barry purchased Auto Driveway and later retired in 1989. Mr. Willmert also owned about 40 acres of orange and grapefruit groves in McAllen, Texas.
He was an active member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Glencoe, where he served as a deacon and as a trustee. He also was a member of the Masons, Shriners, Crow River Shrine Club, Royal Order of Jesters Court 53 in Minneapolis, Marco Island Shrine Club and was a council member for the city of Glencoe. He also was a lifetime member of Glencoe VFW Post 5102 and Glencoe American Legion Post 95.
He enjoyed stamp collecting, watching Minnesota sports, especially the Minnesota Gophers basketball and football teams; playing cribbage every Tuesday with his neighbor Nick, traveling, fishing, gardening and pheasant hunting back in the day.
He is survived by his daughters, Sharie Bell of Overland Park, Kansas, and Patti (Larry) Olson of Glencoe; daughter-in-law, Joanne (Willmert) Sheedy of Chanhassen; grandchildren, Todd Willmert of Edina, Carrie (Willmert) Bloom (Scott) of Edina, Mark Willmert of Minneapolis, Heidi (Bell) Bertoncin (James) of Merriam, Kansas, Cameron Olson of Glencoe, Grant Olson of New Auburn and Angela (Olson) Bolt of Glencoe; great-grandchildren, Talia Willmert of Edina, Triana Willmert of Edina, Shelby Robertson of Merriam, Kansas, Erin Robertson of Merriam, Kansas, Dylan Robertson of Merriam, Kansas, and Ariana Bolt of Glencoe; sister-in-law, Thelma Mikkelson of New Ulm; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Gladys (Morgan) Willmert; wife, Melva (Thrush) Willmert; son, Barry Willmert; his dog, Buster; sister, Wanda Willmert; brother, Sylvester Willmert; son-in-law, Richard Bell; grandson, Clark Bell; great-grandson, Nicholas Bell; sisters-in-law, Clarice Greise, Joyce Prill and Joy Thrush; and brothers-in-law, Wayne Thrush, Clarence Prill, Donald Mikkelson and Art Greise.
The family invites everyone to the luncheon at the church immediately following the service.
Memorials are preferred to the Shriners Home for Crippled Children.
Arrangements are with the Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.hantge.com.
