Robert L. Granger

Granger, Robert L., Sr., age 89, died of heart failure on May 12, 2011 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. Bob was born in West Union, IA on August 18, 1921 to Beulah Stansbury Granger and Leland Granger. He attended the West Union Public Schools and graduated in 1939. His college career at the Univ. of Northern Iowa was interrupted in 1942 for a 4-year tour of duty in the US Army. He was attached as a trumpet player to the official Army Ground Forces Band at Ft. Knox, KY. Later the band moved to the European Theatre. On VE Day, he represented the US Army by playing taps on the rubble of the bombed-out Coventry Cathedral in England. Following the war, Bob finished his BA degree in music and started his teaching career as Band Director in Webster City and Independence, IA. Continuing in music, he received an MM degree from New England Conservatory in Boston. He later served on two college music faculties: Idaho State University in Pocatello, and Arizona State University in Tempe. Going back to college, he made a change to Educational Administration and received an MA and Ph. D at the University of MN. After serving as a public school administrator in both Silver Bay and Wayzata, MN, Robert was a professor at California State University at Los Angeles, Kean University in New Jersey, and New York University. Robert directly the national study of the Head Star Program for the Nixon administration in 1968. He authored one college textbook, "Educational Leadership." Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Wayne, and his son, Robert Granger, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virgie Mosby Granger; his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Robert Krzyzanowski; three grandsons: Daniel Krzyzanowski (Erica), David Krzyzanowski (Sarah), and Max Granger; his sister-in-law, Darlene Granger; his niece, Janelyn Papstein, and his nephew, Meredith Granger. Bob enjoyed a long retirement in Plymouth, MN where his personal interests included music, gardening and traveling. No public memorial is planned. A private service with interment will take place in West Union, IA at a later date.

Published on May 15, 2011