James Gant

Services for James Russell Gant, husband and lifelong companion of Martha "Marty" Ellen (nee Quillin), age 88, of Stillwater will be Friday, 1:00 P.M. at BRADSHAW CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTER, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater with Visitation one hour prior to the service. Graveside services will be Saturday, 1:00 P.M. Pinewood Cemetery in Cross Lake, MN.





Dear Family, Friends and Veterans. On Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. we lost a great American man who was quiet in his accomplishments and loving in his character. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, October 23, 1921 to Lee Patrick Gant and Ella Schaeffer Gant, Jimmy and family made moves to Fleetwood, Pennsylvania and Detroit, Michigan before settling in Indianapolis, Indiana on race day in 1933. On that day, Jimmy skipped out on the move in to follow the people going somewhere. He ended up at the Speedway and walked in along with many fans as the fence was conveniently pushed over (winner, Louis Meyer average speed 104.162). "When I got back, Dad gave me a talking to".





As a young man, Jimmy worked in the fields of west Indy but decided that being a caddy at the Indianapolis Country Club was a better way to spend his time, with tips too. A graduate of Ben Davis High School, Jimmy went to work at Allison's in Speedway, Indiana and trained as a welder. He enlisted in the Army and quickly made his way to Camp Rucker, Alabama for training in the 256th Medium Maintenance Ordinance Company. They took the Queen Mary to England and shortly after D-Day landed in France under General George Patton all the while writing letters home especially to Martha.





After returning home, Jimmy and Marty were married on June 12, 1946 and celebrated their 60th anniversary together in Stillwater, MN. Jimmy opened up a gas station in downtown Indianapolis (gas was 17 cents a gallon), worked selling Goodyear tires, spent time with the Purex Corp. working a sales territory and managing salesmen. After moving from Indianapolis to the lake country of central Minnesota in 1967, Jimmy got into the wholesale clothing business with Mendenhall Graham out of Duluth, MN. He called on "main street" clothing stores hauling his wares in suitcases to "present" the goods. This he really enjoyed.





Jimmy and Mary retired to their "Golden Pond" in 1986. Jimmy and Marty were very active in the Brainerd Senior Citizen Center with Jimmy serving on the board of directors for 9 years. He held the office of President, Vice-President and Treasurer for the Crow Wing County Council on Aging organizing many events and was recognized by Governor Rudy Perpich.





Jimmy was responsible along with his son, Mark for organizing the first reunion of the 256th Medium Maintenance Company in Speedway Indiana in August of 1990. As Jimmy was one of the younger soldiers in the Company, he may be the last of the brave and tireless souls who kept the tanks going to liberate Europe and the World.





Jimmy and Marty traveled extensively in the great US of A, often calling on family and friends to spend time together. Jimmy loved bowling, cross country skiing, baseball, fishing, golf, watching the wildlife at golden pond, gardening, big trees, his wife, family, America and those guys in the tanks.





Preceded in death by wife, Marty, Jimmy is survived by two sons, Mark Gant (Donna) of Indianapolis, IN, Tim Gant of Stillwater; grandchildren, Jakob Patrick, Kathleen Marie, Tara Kae Gant of Stillwater; sisters, Jean Sheets and Ruby Gant of Indianapolis, IN; sister in law, Betty Bryan of Baxter, MN; niece, Connie Bryan of Baxter, MN; mother of his grandchildren, Michelle Donovan; nieces and nephews in Minnesota and Indiana.





This guy, like many older-generation Americans, had everybody's back. The man who had my back is gone. God Bless the Troops at home and abroad. Love you Dad, Grandpa, Jimmy. You did a great job.