Warren Joseph Grandmaitre (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Warren Joseph Grandmaitre, son of Ray and Mary Seckora Grandmaitre, was born March 12, 1916, in Cornell, Wisconsin. He departed this life Sunday, November 28, 2010, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-four years, eight months, and sixteen days.
On June 3, 1976, he was united in marriage to Dixie Virginia Sherman, and they shared the last thirty-four years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Warren Joseph Grandmaitre, Jr.; and a grandson, Ray Grandmaitre.
Warren is survived by his wife, Dixie, of the home; six daughters, Sharon Bisignano, Mary Grandmaitre, and Barbara Grandmaitre, all of Des Moines, Iowa, Bonnie Jones, and her husband, Dean, Sarah Jones, and her husband, Howard, and Cindy Spence, all of Lebanon, Missouri; three sons, Raymond Grandmaitre, and his wife, Debbie, of Des Moines, Iowa, Tom Spence, and his wife, Connie, of Urbana, Missouri, and Leon Spence, and his wife, Kathy, of Tunas, Missouri; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born in Wisconsin and became an orphan at an early age. After being placed with various families, he struck out on his own at the age of twelve. He worked with the civil service for a few years and then entered the United States Army on March 3, 1941. He served his country faithfully during World War II as part of the European African Middle Eastern Theater and was awarded several medals and honors for his years of service. After being honorably discharged on August 20, 1945, he made his home in Des Moines, Iowa, where he raised his family and worked as a furnace installation specialist for many years. Later, he moved to Missouri and opened an antique business in Buffalo. Once he and Dixie were married, they lived in Buffalo for several years before moving to Lebanon.
Warren was raised in the Catholic faith and, after moving to Lebanon, he and Dixie had attended Harvest Tabernacle – United Pentecostal Church.
In his spare time he enjoyed doing woodworking projects and had made several pieces of furniture, toys and even built a log cabin. He also liked painting, dancing, and cooking, and was particularly well known for his green tomato pie. He enjoyed traveling and had made many trips to Alaska, as he liked that part of the country very much. He had a great fondness for children and especially enjoyed all of his grandchildren.
Warren was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and will remember him as a devoted family man, a decorated, patriotic soldier, and a good friend to many.
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