Richard "Rick" Edwin Grant
SPRINGFIELD - Richard "Rick" Edwin Grant passed away at 2:14 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Memorial Medical Center after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Rick was born December 7, 1943, the son of Edwin and Roberta Grant, who are both deceased.
He and his wife, Alice, were married February 5, 1966.
Rick graduated in 1961 from Lanphier High School and attended Springfield College in Illinois and Bradley University. He spent 32 years in the insurance business and was a representative for Prudential & New York Life Insurance companies. He finished his insurance career with Horace Mann Insurance Companies from 1981 until his retirement in 2002 working in agent training. Rick then obtained his Illinois Real Estate license and was a realtor for eight years.
Rick played baseball for Lanphier High School. During the summer of 1962, he played on the Standard Concrete Pipe Connie Mack baseball team that was the World Series runner-up. In 2009, the team was inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame, something Rick was very proud. Rick contributed to the Springfield community through his involvement in boys' summer league baseball. He coached in the Khoury League, Peewee Reese League, and Sandy Koufax League baseball programs, briefly serving as the President of the Southwest Youth Baseball Association.
The most cherished aspect of Rick's life was the love of his wife, Alice; son, Ric (wife, Jodi); daughter, Paula Heredith; granddaughter, Lindsey Heredith; grandson, Steven Heredith; grandson, Cody Grant; granddaughter, Delaney Grant; great-grandson, Braylon Heredith; and great-granddaughter, Kayden Markiewicz.
Cremation was accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center prior to ceremonies.
Memorial Gathering: 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 S. Grand Ave. West, Springfield.
Private family ceremonies will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Salem United Methodist Church, 6858 Old Jacksonville Rd., New Berlin, IL 62670, or American Cancer Society
, 675 E. Linton Ave., Springfield, IL 62703.
Please visit boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences.
Published in the SJ-R 3/22/15
John Holderread
I know we had classes together and know that we played baseball together. Rest In Peace Rick and I know you are in a better place. I will forever remember seeing you and talking with you right before you passed! Be at peace now.
Mariclare O'Rourke (McClure)
I remember Rick very well. In our Junior (or senior) year he had a motorbike he ran around on. I was at Janet Young (ASHE) house one day and he came along. He offered a ride so I jumped on. We were going down No. 19th street and he hit a huge pothole and I went up in the air and if I hadn't been hangiing on for dear life I would have been thrown off. Rick laighed and laughed. Needless to say, I didn't take any more rides!
Riack always made me laugh and was such an easy going guy. I was saddend to hear of his struggles with cancer. He was a great guy.
My thoughts are with his family.
Sincererly,
Mariclare (O'Rourke) McClure Austin, Tx.
Jackie Miles (Forshey)
Ricky & I grew up three houses apart on 6th Street. We were friends, always allied against the "end-of -the street bad guys"! We went to Ridgely together then Edison then (finally!) Lanphier. We spoke by phone through the years and I visited with him last year in Springfield. We laughed & talked about the old neighborhood & specific neighbors, always retuning to what good parents we had and what a wonderful, free childhood we enjoyed. I am sorry to lose him but know he's at peace now.
Lawrence A. (Larry) Wieties
Losing a good friend and classmate is difficult and even more so as the years fly by. Rick suffered so long with a terrible disease and surely is in a better place so that is comforting to know. It had to be difficult for his family.
I look back fondly to grade school with basketball and baseball and then to LHS where again we were baseball teammates. We lived in the same neighborhood, hung out, did neighborhood things and games and did so much together. Then later we shared the experience of working for the same compay (Horace Mann) and we both worked our careers in insurance. He was so proud when his connie Mack baseball team was inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame
Rick will be remembered as a "people person" who sincerely cared about his friends and associates and never knew a stranger. He showed interest in his friends lives. He was also a great family person who told many stories with pride about his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Farewell my friend.
Ronald Schwabe
Sad to hear about Rick, he was always a good person, freindly, outgoing , and helpful. He fought the good fight and remained upbeat until the end of his life.He will akways be remembered fondly....
Connie Cull (Taylor)
Ricky and I grew up at the same house number 2028, he on sixth and me on seventh. His Mom always made me think of June Cleaver -- always dressed, coiffed and pearled. I can't remember what the occasion was, but I think is might have been the first date for both of us. My parents picked us up and his took us home. He brought me flowers and we sat in the back seat about as far away from each other as possible. Always the gentle boy and assume the gentle man. Rest In Peace, Ricky. Connie
Judith L. Curry
I first met Rick in 1954 when my family moved one block north of his family on 6th street. His father, who did business with my father, invited us all to dinner. Rick and I dated through most of high school and college and stayed close friends throughout the years. Almost 60 years of frendship is hard to lose; however, knowing that his suffering has ended and that he is at peace is a great comfort.
Rick was always a gentleman and one of the best people it has been my good fortune to meet. He practiced his beliefs and was always the first one to offer his support and assistance to someone in need. Being around Rick made me a better person.
I will miss him greatly.
Judith L. Curry
Miss sharing our birthdays together.