Garland D. Grace

Garland D. Grace, 91, of Rochelle passed away May 16, 2011 at St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford. He was born February 10, 1920 in Fairfield, Missouri, the eldest of the twelve children of Gabriel Dewey Grace and Isa Pearl Fahnestock Grace. He served his country in World War Two as a Navy Chief Pharmisist Mate, attached to Marines in South Pacific battles. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze and Silver Stars for valor in battle. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he was part of the Extension Staffs of the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois. After experience in agribusiness he opened the Grace Argicultural Agency as a farm manager and broker. He dedicated more than three decades to conservation of family farms and farm families. Garland was a past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Rochelle Rotary Club. He was a member of the Masonic Horicon Lodge, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Rochelle Post 3878 and a charter member of the Flagg Township Historical Society and the Ogle County Prairie Preservation Society. During his presidency of the Rochelle Wildlife Conservation Club land was secured and the community lake was constructed. For over 25 years he was the Ogle County Master Instructor for Hunter Safety for the Dept. of Natural Resources. In 1972 he was honored as the Rochelle Community Leader of the year. He is survived by the love of his life his wife of 45 years, Anita Stahl Dayton of Rochelle; son Terry (Judy) of Oak Park, step-son Dr. Tim (Daryl ) Dayton of Rochelle, daughters Gena (Marty) Hartlieb of Rockford, Gloria (Rich) Osmer and Mary Beth (Tim) Oswalt of Dixon, and many loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, three brothers Rolla, John, Sterling two sisters Ida Mae Campbell and Diana Grace. He is preceded in death by four brothers, Ray, Virgil, Dale and Orville and two sisters, Stella Lile and Wanda Bostick. Funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Friday May 20, 2011 with full Military Rites at Coulon-Lyons Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Service 815-562-6872, 704 N. 6th Street, Rochelle, with Rev. William Blomberg officiating. A visitation will be held 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday May 19, 2011 at the funeral home with a Masonic Service at 8:00 pm. Memorial donations to the family will be used for a University of Missouri Agricultural Scholarship fund.