Joel G. Grams

ST. JOSEPH Joel G. Grams, 81, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2002, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 28, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 29 at the First Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Hickory Bluff Cemetery where military rites will be conducted. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God, St. Joseph. Mr. Grams was born in St. Joseph, on August 21, 1920. He later moved to Benton Harbor, graduating from Benton Harbor High School in 1939. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942, serving with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. His Battalion was instrumental in the success of the U.S. war effort by building pontoon bridges necessary to transport troops and supplies throughout Germany and France. Mr. Grams returned to the United States in November of 1945, and married Eleanor Menchinger on January 12, 1946. He became a building contractor throughout the Twin Cities area, specializing in residential homes and small commercial properties. He also was a realtor and land developer. A lifelong member of the First Church of God in St. Joseph, Mr. Grams served there in many capacities, including recording original daily Pause With Me inspirational radio messages. A member of the Mainstreet Toastmasters for many years, he won speech contests, both in state and regional competitions. He served as a volunteer with the Red Cross blood drives, and was a past president of the Twin City Homebuilders Association. Mr. Grams was a member of American Legion Post 568. Affectionately know to children as Grandpa Joe, he shared stories, and his talent of oil painting and cartooning in many school classrooms. He is survived by his wife Eleanor; daughter Donna (Richard) Sharp, of Anderson, IN; daughter Kathy (Jim) Cena, of Bradenton, FL; son Joel David (Judy) Grams, of Kalamazoo, MI; and granddaughter Susan (Jacob) Nieten, of Noblesville, IN. Mr. Grams was preceded in death by his parents, Gottlieb and Amelia Grams, and brother Allen Grams.