Russell Duane Grantham

Russell Duane Grantham, age 83, was born July 24th, 1942.  He was the fourth of six children born to Henry and Olive Grantham in Crookston, NE.  He passed away on April 16, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa at the VA hospital.  

The Grantham family moved to Fairbank, IA when Russ was very young.  He joined the Army in 1964.  His tour of duty was during the Vietnam War where he was stationed in Germany for 3 1/2 years. It was here he met his first wife. To this union, 3 children were born...Linda, Mike and Lisa. When discharged from the military they settled in northeast Iowa. He was a machinist by trade. He was also an accomplished cabinet and furniture maker, skills he learned from his dad.  He opened his own business in Clarksville, IA. 

He moved to the central Iowa area where he worked for a cabinet shop in West Des Moines. He then remarried and to this union, a daughter Christina was born.  He purchased an acreage near DeSoto and moved the house from Des Moines to the acreage.  He enjoyed training and showing Arabian horses.  He followed Christina's athletic activities and rarely missed her events.   

In 2016, he married Judy Vanderpool.  They traveled to California and Oregon as well as North Carolina and Kentucky and Eastern Iowa to visit family.  Russ and Judy also enjoyed building enormous doll houses and the furniture that went in it as well as a wall mounted car hauler semi for the grandchildren and completing cabinetry work in the house.  When his health was good, he enjoyed the trips.

Russ is survived by spouse Judy of Earlham, children Linda (Trent) Barlow of Dayton, TX, Michael (Lisa) Grantham of Clarksville, IA, Lisa (Tom) Diesburg of Pomeroy, IA, and Christina (Shane) Martinson of Stuart, IA, stepdaughter Calista (Jeff) Nichols of Des Moines, IA, grandchildren - Jonathon Yarbrough, Shaune Yarbrough, Naomi Barlow, Jared Diesburg, Aaron Diesburg, Jeremy Grantham, Brianna Grantham, Emma Martinson, Remi Martinson and 11 step grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.  Also, siblings Marilyn (Robert) Condry of Vinton, IA and Barb (Glenn) Hodgson of Dubuque, IA, sister-in-law Clarice Grantham of Crookston, NE and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Olive Grantham, brother Robert Grantham, brother Howard Grantham, sister Joyce Bratten, and stepson Douglas Randolph.

Rest in peace, memory restored!

A committal service will be held on Monday, April 27th, at 12:30 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery 34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Adel, IA 50003 followed by a Celebration of Life and luncheon at 2pm at Early Chapel Christian Church 1440 165th St. Earlham, IA 50072.

Thank you all for your comforting words and prayers during this difficult time.

Committal Service

12:30 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2026

Iowa Veterans Cemetery

Urn bearers

Shane Martinson

Emma Martinson

Remi Martinson

Chad Bass

Duane Grantham

Al Rieman

Honorary Urn bearers

Jeremy Grantham

Aaron Diesburg

Jerod Diesburg