James C. "Jim" Grandon age 80, of Waterloo, died Thursday, July 9, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. A gathering of friends and family will be Monday, July 13, from 4 - 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Bible Church, 125 S. Orchard, Cedar Falls, Iowa. A celebration of life service will be Tuesday, July 14 at 10:30 a.m. with a gathering time one hour before the service at Trinity Bible Church in Cedar Falls. Burial will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo.
Jim Grandon was born May 8, 1935, in New Hartford, Iowa the son of Clyde and Evelyn (Sells) Grandon. He grew up on a farm northwest of New Hartford and graduated from New Hartford High School in 1952. At the age of 14 he went to work at Heert's Grocery. During his senior year of high school he assisted his father with the farming as his father was ill, and also worked at Altstadt and Langlas Bakery in Waterloo. On August 8, 1953 he married Marilyn Kenyon in Waterloo and the couple have lived in their current home since 1955. Jim went to work for the Waterloo Community Schools in 1960, as a custodian and as the years weaved and waned he moved to the warehouse, later taking on the supervision of the distribution of the food service program, central storeroom, and custodians. He retired after 36 years of service in 1996. Jim was a past leader of Boy Scout Troop 170 which met at the Open Bible Church in Waterloo. He spent many summers at Ingawanis Boy Scout Camp. He was a member of Trinity Bible Church where he has been involved in the Awana's program with fifth and sixth grade boys. He was named Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa 'Big of the Year' of 2014, for the mentoring he has done with his little brother, and also received the Mayor's Volunteer Award in 2015. Jim was interested in young people, searching them out and taking time to have a genuine conversation whether it was a grandchild, a church member or a young person with a need for adult conversation.
Jim is survived by his wife, "my Bride" Marilyn Grandon of Waterloo, his sons and daughters in law, Dave and Mary Grandon of Jefferson, Paul and Renee Grandon of Evansdale, Tim and Kim Grandon of Ames, Tom and Linda Grandon of Olathe, Kansas and Joel and Luann Grandon of Marion, grandchildren, Rachelle (Joe), Rebecca (Ken), Jonathan (Liz), Charlotte (Chris), Aaron (Katie), Charmaine (Mark), Reuben, Nolan, Curtis, Brodee, Erica, Kyle, Neal, Sam. Seven great grandchildren, sisters, Sharon (Andrew) Schipper, and Dorothy (Doug) Freeseman.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to: Trinity Bible Church, 125 S. Orchard Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 or North East Iowa Food Bank, 1605 Lafayette Street, P.O. Box 2397, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-2397
Online condolences may be directed to: wwwgrandonfuneralandcremationcare.com