R. Grant Jennings

R. GRANT JENNINGS

10/3/1927 – 4/15/2015

Cedar Rapids

"Has anyone told you in the last five minutes you do good work?" If you knew Grant, you knew that line. Grant never missed an opportunity to show his appreciation to those around him and make their day better. He was kind, generous, an endless source of encouragement, lover of learning and had an endearing passion for people – friends and strangers alike. To neighbors he was known as the "Mayor of Berwick'' and in many social circles he was known as "The Ambassador'' because he never missed an opportunity to stop and chat with a friend, an acquaintance or simply a passer-by. Many a moment was spent waiting for Grant to finish his conversation – whether it was telling a story, describing how something works, asking how your day was going or offering words of encouragement. As much as Grant loved to travel, he would recount the trip as a series of conversations he had with fellow travelers or locals. Grant loved people.

Grant was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Frank and Cecelia Jennings. He had two siblings, a brother, Clark, seven years older, and a sister, Mary, 14 years older. Grant idolized his brother, Clark, who was a World War II pilot in the Navy, and tracked his many missions, thus beginning his love for travel. He also adored his sister, Mary, who impressed her love of learning upon him.

Grant's youth was spent pursuing excellence in his athletic endeavors – whether it was football, where, as team captain he ran the opening kickoff back for a 90-plus-yard touchdown; basketball, where he led his team to the state championship; or track, where he started his quarter-mile relay team, which competed in the Drake Relays two years in a row. Grant was voted most athletic (and most handsome!) by his high school class. After graduating from Franklin High School, Grant enlisted in the Navy for two years before attending the University of Iowa. Grant received degrees in commerce and engineering and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. A highlight of his college experience was playing Hawkeye football and lettering his freshman year. After graduation, Grant joined Iowa National Mutual Insurance as a safety engineer, serving the states of Iowa, Missouri and

Kansas.

Grant married his high school sweetheart, Norma Jean Bedell, at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in 1952, continuing their love affair that would last for 74 years. After a brief stay in Kansas City, where their first daughter, Candace, was born, they relocated to Monterey, Calif., where son Brad and daughter Julia were born. Here began a 30-year career in life insurance with Equitable Life Assurance. The family also lived in Menlo Park before settling in Lake Oswego, Ore., as Grant's career advanced. In 1970, rather than accept another promotion and move, he decided to put down roots and open an independent office in Lake Oswego.

Grant soon became very active in the community, joining Lake Oswego Rotary, Toastmasters, Chartered Life Underwriters, the Estate Planning Council, Oswego Lake Country Club and Christ Episcopal Church. Candace joined Grant in the Jennings Insurance Agency in 1993, and the company continued to thrive as they both became active, dynamic participants in the Lake Oswego community.

Grant leaves behind his beloved wife, Norma Jean, Lake Oswego; daughter, Candace and husband Gil Rodriguez, Lake Oswego; son, Brad and wife Renee and daughter Nicole, Campbell, Calif.; and daughter, Julia and husband John and children, Carson and Courtney Hall, Portland, Ore. He also was blessed with several companions who cared for him with love and tenderness – most recently including Jane, Bob, Sandy, Julie and Jan.

A memorial service will take place at noon Friday, May 15, at Christ Episcopal Church in Lake Oswego.

Remembrances may be given to the Lakewood Center for the Arts Endowment Fund in Lake Oswego.

"It's been fun… Love you, Toots.''