October 10, 1935 — September 6, 2024

Larry Grant’s favorite quote:

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, my goodness, what a ride!'”

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Larry Grant Sr on September 6, 2024, who left us unexpectedly due to a heart illness that he kept private. We never saw this coming and certainly never thought this would happen to him.  Dad was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother, and partner. His sense of humor and laughter lit up a room while his warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on anyone he met.

Dad was born on October 10, 1935, at the family homestead in Sandy Hook, Manitoba, the second child of John and Jenny Grabowiecki. Growing up in a hard-working family.  As a child, Dad often joined Jenny in selling vegetables by horse and buggy, a memory he cherished. During Manitoba’s cold winters, Dad, his dog Oscar, and his friends played road hockey, using frozen cow dung as a puck—a story he loved to retell.

By the 1950s, Dad was ready for adventure. He bought his first Harley Davidson motorcycle he took off to Edmonton, Alberta, where he found work operating heavy machinery. Whether on a bulldozer, a belly scraper, or his Harley, Dad was always smiling.

On a sunny day in Edmonton in 1958, Dad’s life took an unexpected turn. While riding his motorcycle, he was involved in an accident with a semi-truck.  Close to death, Dad was taken to a local hospital where he was subjected to many surgeries and medical treatments.  The road to recovery was long, but this accident truly ended up being one of the best things to happen to Dad as it was at the Edmonton Hospital that he met his future wife, Claudette.

Over the next two years, their relationship flourished. In 1960, Claudette’s family relocated from Edmonton to Los Angeles, California. Her father, George, had made it clear that Dad could not propose to Claudette until she turned 18.

Two years later, just days before her 18th birthday, Dad set off on a 2,900-kilometer journey from Edmonton to Los Angeles in his Volkswagen Beetle. Arriving at their home at 12:01 a.m. on February 10, he knocked on the door, waking Claudette and her family to propose.  Within five months they were married.

Dad and Claudette were blessed with three children: their eldest, Colette, followed by Larry Jr., and their youngest daughter, Claudine Grant.

In the spring of 1974, the family, along with their cat Eddie, packed their belongings and moved back to Canada, first settling in Vernon, BC, before eventually making Kamloops their home.

Canada Safeway became Dad’s second home where he spent over 30 years as one of Kamloops best meat cutters!  Every fall during hunting season, he became well known as the “Traveling Butcher”.  For over twenty years he processed game on the side, enjoying all of the stories and people he met along the way.

Family dinners were enjoyed with many laughs and plenty of love to go around.  Vacations alternated yearly between visiting family in Los Angeles or family in Sandy Hook Manitoba.

In the fall of 1994, tragedy struck when Dad and Claudette lost their eldest daughter, Colette, and then in February 1996, just two days after her 52nd birthday, Dad lost his wife Claudette to a broken heart. The next few years proved to be rough for this man, but in true Grant spirit, he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and began to enjoy all the things that life has to offer and vowed to live to 100 for his children.

In 1997, Dad joined Sun Peaks Resort as a Sun Guide and for fifteen years he guided hundreds of guests from around the world every Monday morning during the ski season.  His dedication was recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Sun Guide of the Year award.  Dad was always on the move and was physically active as a member of the Kamloops Hiking Club, the Dragon Boat Club, the Kiwanis Club, and additionally volunteering his time selling charity raffle tickets.

In 2014 while spending time at the family homestead in Sandy Hook Manitoba, Dad met Heather Ritchie at a mutual friend’s dinner.  It did not take long for these two “Winnipeg Beach” locals to hit it off, and quickly a strong loving relationship developed.  Over the years Dad spent more time in Winnipeg Beach/Sandy Hook and less time in Kamloops.  The relationship between Dad and Heather continued to blossom, right until his passing.  These two were fortunate to enjoy a decade of love, travel, snowmobiling, socializing, dancing, laughter, and many nights in front of a wood burning stove, sipping on a “holy water” while solving the world’s problems.  For the second time in his life, Dad found a woman he was madly in love with!

A lifelong reader, Dad’s personal library exceeded 1,000 books by the time of his passing. His passion for reading sparked a deep desire to write, and he authored several books filled with his own favorite inspirational quotes and sayings. He often wrote late into the night, and even in his final days in the hospital, he continued his creative work, dictating one last piece to his daughter Claudine.

Dad is survived by his sister June Petersen, his Son Larry Jr, daughter Claudine, his daughter in law Kelly Grant and grandsons Skyler and Taytum as well as his favorite sister-in-law Terri Cosgrave.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday September 28, 2024 at the Heritage House, Riverside Park 100 Lorne Street Kamloops, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  Stop by, share some stories and lets celebrate his life!

A good man, a kind heart, and a great storyteller.  He had a way of making those around him feel special, and he appreciated and coveted every relationship that he had.  To a life well lived. We love and miss you Dad.

• Date : 2024-09-06
• Location : Kamloops