Richard (Dick) Joseph Grammer

Carbondale - Richard (Dick) Joseph Grammer was born on November 09, 1939 in Harrisburg, IL to Gus & Pearl Grammer. He was affectionately known to family and old friends as, “Dickie Joe”. Richard passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020 in the CLC Unit of the Veteran’s Hospital.



He was always an adventurous and industrious child. He broke the same arm eleven times. One summer just after having the cast removed, he broke it again while doing tricks on his bicycle.



He delivered papers and mowed lawns when he was just a young boy. He carried on his work ethic into adulthood and instilled that into his children.



Dick loved sports and was always very competitive in anything he did. He loved to play football in high school and although he was probably the smallest one on the team, he could hit the hardest.



He became a Mason early on at the Shekinah Lodge #241 in Carbondale. He is now a life member. While he was in the Air Force he became a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Great Falls, MT. He is also a life member of the Scottish Rite. He went on to become a Shriner of the Algeria Temple in Montana and when he moved back to Illinois transferred to Ainad Temple. The Shriner’s Hospital and all the children they served were very close to his heart. In the early seventies Dick was the Captain of the Jackson County Motor Cycle Patrol and they rode in many parades throughout the years. He also supported, helped, and coached winter youth programs for the DeMolay. In 1971 he was named “Man of the Year” of Ainad Temple.



He joined the Air Force in 1961 and was stationed at Malstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT. He was so proud that he was able to serve his country. There he met his wife to be, Joan. They were married and had two children, Becky Sue and Richard Scot.



After Dick was discharged, they moved back to Illinois to start their life together. But before making the final decision to settle in Carbondale they lived in Jasper, IN; Lima, and Cincinnati, OH. As of April 1st, 2020 they had been married for fifty-six years.



Dick wore many hats during his lifetime. The longest being the Jake’s Tire cap, where he sold tires and did automotive repairs. He loved working with the people. In the late nineties Dick decided he wanted to drive over the road. So, he went to school at John A. Logan and became an OTR truck driver. Dick enjoyed the challenge of sometime new. He never met a stranger that he could not engage in a conversation. He was definitely a people person.



Dick supported his children in all their activities throughout their school years and after. He was so proud of all their accomplishments. He was very dedicated to the CCHS wrestling program and softball during the summer months.



Dick loved taking his family on road trips on Sundays. He would drive to many different places in Southern Illinois and take them exploring. He enjoyed going camping with family and friends. He taught his children about fishing, camping, and the outdoors in general. He taught his kids how to drive on snow and ice usually in the parking lot at the mall, when it was closed of course. He enjoyed all kinds of music and loved dancing with his wife, Joan. Card games that lasted all night with family and friends, especially on New Year’s Eve, was the highlight of the Holiday season.



His family is spread from New Hampshire to New Mexico to California and into Washington and Montana. He loved his trips to Terry, MT. where he formed a strong relationship with his In-laws, Bert & Evelyn Lee, and brother and sister-in-law, Don and Dorcas Lee. He was a down to earth, straight talking, and a do anything for you type of person.



He is survived by his wife, Joan, daughter Becky Grammer (Kevin Anderson), son, Scot (Stephanie) Grammer, and five grandchildren, Chelsea (Nate) Hennlich, Brittany Donker, Don Michael (Carrie) Donker, Matthew and Sarah Grammer, one great grandson, Theodore Hennlich, four nieces , one nephew, a brother and sister in-law and an uncle, Warren Grammer.



Preceding him in death: His parents, sister and brother in-law, two nephews, his In-laws, grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.



The family wants to thank all the doctors, nurses, and the Chaplain, and all the staff of the CLC at the Veteran’s Hospital in Marion, IL. They treated him like family. They were kind, caring, and treated him with dignity and respect. During this past month when Joan was not allowed to visit him, they made sure she knew how he was doing. Joan was able to be with him in his last few hours and his passing was very peaceful for which she was grateful. May God Bless each of you.



Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is handling all the arrangements. Services will not held at this time; however, the family will be having a celebration of life sometime in the upcoming months. Cards can be sent to Meredith Funeral Home, Attn: Grammer Family. The family is requesting that any memorials be sent to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or This Able Veteran, in Carbondale, IL.