Jerry L. Grant, age 76, of Topeka, Kansas went to be with his Lord on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the University of Kansas St. Francis Campus, Topeka, Kansas due to complications from diabetes, heart problems caused by agent orange exposure in Vietnam and kidney cancer. He was born on a farm near Hill City, Kansas November 4, 1948, to Ernest Wayne & Della Mae (Forgue) Grant Hefner. Jerry was a 1966 graduate of Concordia High School and a 1972 graduate of Kansas Technical Institute (K-State Salina, K-State Polytechnic)
Jerry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1968 where he attended boot camp and mortar training in California, then transitioned to Vietnam where he was stationed from July 1968-August 1969 with the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, H&S Company near An Hoa, Vietnam. In that time, he rose to the rank of Corporal and was section leader in mortars. For his services he received the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal W/1*, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Rifle Sharpshooters Badge.
Jerry started his career with Southwestern Bell in Topeka in 1972 as an engineering assistant in the switching department, then he and his family moved to Parsons in 1975 where he took a job as an outside plant engineer until 1989, then the family moved to Wichita where he was an outside plant engineer until his retirement on September 11, 2001. After his retirement they moved to Topeka to be closer to family and where it was a better climate for gardening, which Jerry loved to do. In his younger days Jerry loved to hunt and fish with his family members and friends, and they had the best of times and where Jerry had very fond memories. Sad to say Jerry was a bookaholic and read anything he could get his hands on but especially loved Louis L’ Amour books for their life lessons.
During retirement Jerry spent thousands of hours researching his family genealogy. Another accomplishment he was extremely proud of was writing a book on gold mining and the gold rush which was called: Grant’s Mining Districts of the Western United States (Vol 1 & 2) and having it in the Library of Congress.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 55 years Janet M. (Tieking) Grant (Married on November 22,1969) and his sons, Jason Grant of Shawnee and Aaron Grant of the home. His mother Della Hefner, brother Terry Grant, Concordia, brothers and sisters-in-law Pat Newell of Riley, Joan and Larry Perkins of Hays, Chris and Scott Ostermann of Abilene and many nieces and nephews. Others who predeceased him in death were his father Wayne Grant of Concordia, brother Eric Grant of Clay Center, Step-Father Bud Hefner, Grandparents Ernest P. Grant and Bessie M. (Pearce) Grant of Hill City, Elmer Forgue and Eva (Zimmer) Forgue of Concordia, brother-in-law Terry Newell, sister-in-law Monica Grant and his father and mother-in-law Joe and Irene (Labarge) Tieking of Concordia.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. all at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia. A Rosary will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Concordia, Kansas with Fr. Joseph Kieffer officiating. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 am, Friday, July 11, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Concordia, Kansas with Fr. Joseph Kieffer officiating. Burial will follow the services at St. Concordia Cemetery, Concordia, Kansas. A luncheon will be served after the graveside service back at the Church.
The family suggests memorials to Children’s Mercy Hospital or Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Concordia in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.