Earl W. Grater, 92, of 19190 Round Grove Road, Morrison, IL, died Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Pleasant View Rehabiltion & Health Care Center, Morrison.
Earl was born August 31, 1920, in Malvern, IL, to William E. and Hazel M. (Book) Grater. He was a graduate of the Malvern Grade School. On March 8, 1942, he married Betty L. Linder in Morrison. Earl engaged in farming in the Malvern area of rural Morrison. While farming, he also worked 26 years at Frantz Manufacturing in Sterling, IL. He was a former member, trustee, Sunday School teacher, and Superintendent of Malvern Evangelical United Brethren Church. He was currently a member of Morrison United Methodist Church. Earl served as a founding board member of the Clystic School and was a member of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau. He loved sports of all kinds and enjoyed attending the sporting events of his grandchildren. He was an avid vegetable and flower gardener. For many years he donated his green beans to the Morrison Food Pantry and supplied the produce table at Morrison United Methodist Church in support of missions.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; five daughters, Cheryl (Ron) Bielema of Canton, IL, Cathy (Chuck) Berschinski of Mahomet, IL, Judy (Dennis) Goossens of Lyndon, IL, Linnette Keller of Laguna Vista, TX and Leanne Dykema of Morrison; 14 grandchildren, Kelly (Joe) Havens, Kurt (Megan) Bielema, Mike (Tejal) Berschinski, Lauren (Jeff) Vaughan, Christine (Christopher) McAuley, Skip (Angela) Vinson, Seth Vinson, Travis Goossens, Luke (Tamara) Keller, Nathan Keller, Erin (Josh) James, Kate (Cody) Goodwin, Nolan Dykema, Thomas Dykema; 23 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Smith of Sterling.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons-in-law, Eddie Keller and Marty Dykema; one sister, Darlene Feldman; one brother, Delbert Grater.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 15, 2013, at Morrison United Methodist Church
OFFICIATING: Rev. Ryan M. Sutton, Pastor, Morrison United Methodist Church
VISITATION: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, July 14, 2013, at Morrison United Methodist Church
The Morrison Chapel Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
INTERMENT: Rock Creek Cemetery, Malvern, IL
A memorial has been established by the family.