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Grant Calvin Poole

1922 - 2023

Grant Calvin Poole obituary, 1922-2023, Lakewood, KS

Grant Poole Obituary

Born April 28, 1922, Grant C. Poole lived virtually all his life on the ranch homesteaded by his grandfather William D. Poole in the 1850s. He was a son of Grover C. and Louisa (Germann) Poole. After graduating from Manhattan High School, where he was active statewide in the Future Farmers of America, he helped run the farm and cattle operation and attended Kansas State University until joining the US Army Air Corps where he trained in radar, primarily throughout the south. He met airmen from throughout the nation, several of whom became lifelong friends. He was introduced to a New York City buddy's family member Miriam (Mickey) Pick, and they married in 1946. He and Mickey lived a few years in Pasadena, Calif., where he attended California Institute of Technology and then returned to Kansas to help develop the ranch's registered Hereford herd. In 1949, they moved into a home on the ranch that he designed and built, and it was his home for seven decades.

Returning to classes at K-State, he graduated in 1959. Over the years, in addition to his and his brother's cattle operation, he taught math and science at Dwight high school, assisted in a K-State physics lab, and cast and carved teeth for a local dentist.

His volunteering at the Manhattan Public Library stretched back to his work on the Talking Books projects, where he repaired tape players. He segued into mending books and had a deft touch with his paint brushes and glue pots that put thousands of books back on the library shelves. The library and its staff were an important motivating force in his later years, and he was at his desk every day until the library closed during the pandemic.

Mickey, a longtime K-State faculty member in physical education, died in 2005. After her death, he took back up the trumpet, which he had played in high school, and he joined a senior bowling league, as well as increasing his library volunteer efforts.

He and Mickey had three children: Pamela Engler (Cady), of Bryan, Texas; Kathy Poole (James Millikan) of Evanston, Ill.; and Joseph Poole (Marcie) of Lakewood, Colo. He is also survived by his niece Connie Poole (Tom Dorst) and nephew William Poole. There are 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Mercury from Aug. 29 to Aug. 30, 2023.

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Martha and Steve Zilkie

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Marlene M

September 3, 2023

Grant was such a dedicated person driving all the way into town to volunteer almost daily for many years at the library. He had many interests and did it all so well. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Karen Eifert Jones

September 1, 2023

Karen Eifert Jones

September 1, 2023

Karen Eifert Jones

September 1, 2023

Oh my . I knew the day would come but still wasn´t prepared. I still miss Mickey so much. They both poured wisdom into my life! I love you guys.

Chuck Tannehill

August 29, 2023

My condolences to the family. Grant and I took trumpet lessons from C.L. Snodgrass. One time Grant was finishing up and I was waiting. C.L. called me in and said you have to see this. Grant put his trumpet to his lips played a continuous note longer than I could hold my breath. Grant was in his late 80s then!!! He will be missed by many.

Wandean Rivers

August 29, 2023

I was honored to have Grant as a friend. Such a sweet spirit. He never ceased to amaze me with his varied interests and activities. He will be missed.

Margy Stewart/Ron Young

August 28, 2023

Our condolences to all the family! And condolences to McDowell Creek, as Grant will be so missed by all of us who were his neighbors. He was one of the greatest of the Greatest Generation. Margy Stewart and Ron Young

Anita and Lenny Waters

August 27, 2023

We are so very sorry to hear of the passing of your father, grandfather and uncle. He was a great man with many accomplishments and community services, far too many to list. We know he will be greatly missed. We offer our sympathy as each of you go thru your grieving process. We am sure he is smiling after being reunited with his lovely wife. Remember and focus on the good times and let him see your smiles.
Sincerely, Anita Stroud Waters and Lenny Waters.

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