Richard Fidelas Grantges

Jody Hane2021-09-04T09:34:35-05:00

Name: Richard Fidelas Grantges
Location of Birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of Birth: November 9, 1930
Date of Death: August 19, 2009 (78 years old)
Parents: William and Geraldine Grantges
High School and Class: 1948 - Washburn High School
College: 1953 - University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, both in distinction.
Highest Rank:
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: January 25, 1955 (Enlistment Date)
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: January 24, 1957 (Release Date)
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Richard was drafted during the Korean Conflict and served his country in the United States Army Signal Corps for two years at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey from 1955 to 1957.

Wars Involved:
Korean Conflict

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Richard was an Eagle Scout in Troop 12 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Richard was issued a First Class Radiotelephone Operator's license in 1947 and organized a group of high school students to build and install a new sound system for the Washburn High School auditorium in 1948.

Following a six year engagement, he married Joan Louise Fritzinger in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 10, 1954.

Richard went to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey in July, 1953 and worked there until retirement in 1987. He was an engineering manager and department head while at Bell Labs.

Richard was a Leader-Trainer for The Great Books Foundation and a co-leader with his wife, of a Great Books Discussion Group in Morristown, New Jersey for several years.

Richard was very active in the Battleground Arts Center of Freehold, New Jersey. He held several offices including Technical Director and President, and was a member of the Board of Directors for two years. Richard, along with his wife Joan, organized a Couples Music Study Group, which is still active.

After Richard retired from Bell Telephone Laboratories, he and his wife Joan moved in 1992, to the Grand Rapids area of northern Minnesota. He lived on the north shore of Siseebakwet (Sugar) Lake where he was an active member of the Siseebakwet Lake Association Board of Directors. Being a life long lover of music and owning one of the largest electronic organs in the State of Minnesota, Richard took great delight in performing annual outdoor patriotic organ concerts for eleven years on the 4th of July weekend from his home. The concerts were enjoyed by many people in the Grantges yard as well as from boats and docks on Sugar Lake, some from over a mile away.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, the Audio Engineering Society, the American Guild of Organists, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Sharon (Paul) Prohaska; son, William and his wife, Lynda; two grandchildren; and a brother, David.

Richard died at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was cremated.

Tribal Affiliation(s):