Charles Edward 'Chuck' Grant, 86

Charles Edward “Chuck” Grant, 86, “found his way ‘home’ by the light of the full moon” on May 14, 2014.

Born on Jan. 21, 1928, on the family farm in Cole County, Ill., he went to school in Mattoon and graduated from Sullivan High School. He started working for Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1947.

Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, he served two years in the Korean conflict. After a blind date and a nine-month whirlwind courtship with Virginia Tasick, they were married April 10, 1951. They were blessed with six children in nine years. Every summer during his three-week vacation time, the family would pack up the car and head west where a stop at the Badlands was always required. On several trips there were other family members and friends who would join, creating a caravan for which his kids named him “The Wagonmaster.”

A lifelong commitment to youth started as a coach, official and athletic director at St. Patrick’s School in Washington, Ill., in his spare time. They made their home in Washington for 32 years until he was able to retire from Cat in 1982, at the ripe old age of 54. A couple of years later, he and Ginny followed their daughters to Montana where he continued his service to youth as a sports official. He was a member of the Sunrisers Lions Club and district delegate to the Montana Officials Association. All together, he spent 38 years of his life coaching and teaching young athletes through his officiating.

 Chuck could be found in the bleachers or on the sidelines of every game that any of his grandchildren were involved in and would travel to all parts of the state to be sure he didn’t miss a thing, turning into “Everybody’s Grampa” on the team. He was always there to support and cheer and occasionally yell at the officials!

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Fern Grant, and stepfather Earl Christ; his sister, Marj Goddard; stepbrother, Jim Christ; stepsister, Jean Eastin; and grandson, Matt Grant.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, at the family home, and daughters, Terri and Bob Muraoka, and Lin and Joe Gwiazdon, all of Whitefish; and sons, Ed and Mikki Grant, Bob and Marty Grant, Tom and Kelley Grant and Jim Grant, all of Illinois; 10 grandchildren, Nick Grant, R.C., Cooper and Todd Muraoka, Maude and Tim Gwiazdon, Sam, Mitch, Sydney and Pete Grant; and two great-grandchildren, Rhyan and Raiden Muraoka.

“I’m in the car, Virginia!”

A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A rosary will follow at 7 p.m. Mass will be at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kalispell.

Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s School.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Chuck’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Chuck’s tribute wall.