Gordon "Gordie" Grams

Gordon Jerome Grams, 86, of Breitung Township, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain following a long illness. He was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Milwaukee, son of the late Gottfried and Ida Grams. During World War II, Gordie served in the United States Air Force from April 1943 until January 1946. He served as a crew chief on the P-51 Mustang, serving 10 months in the Air Offensive, Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific on Iwo Jima before being honorably discharged. Gordie was awarded the American Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, a Bronze Star and 3 Battle Stars. On July 20, 1946, he married Joyce Sjoquist at the Immanuel Baptist Church. The couple resided in Milwaukee where Gordie was employed by Evans Engineering as a tool and die maker until they ceased operations. They returned to Iron Mountain where Gordie worked a short time for Ford Motor Co. until the plant closed, and then he worked as a millwright at the Niagara Mill for Kimberly Clark and Pentair, retiring in February 1987 after 37 years of employment. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Kingsford, where he served on the deacon and trustee boards and was a church host. Gordie valued all the friendships in the Christian fellowship Group of the church and was a part of the group of retirees who went weekly to the Lake Ellen Bible Camp to work on the projects at the camp. He enjoyed golf, gardening, and hunting in the fall until his health began to fail. Gordie's family meant everything to him. He was blessed with his family, his wife, Joyce; two children, Karen (Bob) Knight, and Jere (Re') Grams; five grandchildren, Michelle (Randy) Daniels, Ann (Eric) Henderson, Ryan Grams, Nicolette Grams, and Suzanna (Seth) Willingham; two great-grandchildren, Jacob Daniels and Madison Henderson; and several nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elmer and Melvin Grams, and one sister, Anita Irving. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Kingsford. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the church with Pastor Ron Wolfe officiating. Burial will be in the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Gordon J. Grams online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.

Gordon "Gordie" Grams

November 21, 1924 - March 1, 2011