Grant Arthur Thomas Hole

Grant Arthur Thomas Hole, 80, died Monday August 27, 2018 at home surrounded by family and friends under the care of Spectrum Hospice. The son of Thomas and Edythe (Cole) Hole he was born on April 2, 1938 in London, Ontario, Canada. He was preceded in death by both his parents. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Clora “Cody” Hole, three children Debi Merren, Stephen Hole, and Kevin (Terri) Hole, two grandchildren Miranda Kiste and Blake (Christa) Schrader all of Greenville; one sister Elaine Acton of Lansing, a nephew Tony Acton of Chandler, AZ, a special cousin Carol Strome of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and her family. Grant moved to the United States with family in 1952. He graduated from Alma High School, then he joined the United States Navy serving for four years as a Radio Operator. After being honorably discharged from the Navy Grant attended Northwood University, where he met the love of his life “Cody”, as well as obtained a degree in business management. Grant and Cody were married on December 10, 1960. Grant was employed by Sears starting as a salesman in St. Johns, MI with a promotion soon following to store manager in Columbia City, IN. Grant managed the Indiana location for three years then was promoted to a larger volume store in Adrian, MI. Due to his excellent leadership and management skills he was given the opportunity to travel to other stores and train new store managers along with his management duties in the Adrian store. At this time he was the youngest store manager for Sears in the Chicago region at 30 years old. In just three short years of being in Adrian Grant was again promoted to a yet larger volume store in Greenville, MI. While in Greenville his interest in entrepreneurship grew pushing him to start his own business Superior Tire Inc. Along with his own business Grant had many partnerships including Ho-Dan, Greenville Truck Service, G&G leasing, G&D Industries, and Superior leasing. He was recognized in the June 1990 issue of INC. magazine for his support of a Michigan program that helped small businesses with Growth Margin. Grant eventually took an interest in Real Estate, and upon retirement he received his license for real estate appraisal and was employed by Premier Appraisal Service and Yakes Appraisal. Grant was very involved in the communities in which he lived. He was a charter member of the Optimist Club in Columbia City, IN and continued his membership in Greenville. Grant served on the Greenville City Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Grant spent many years while his boys were growing up coaching little league baseball in Greenville. After moving to Montcalm Township he served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Review. Grant never lost his love for entrepreneurship and spent much of his time advising young entrepreneurs. Family was the most important thing to Grant. It was very difficult for him to express his love but when he did it could be in very unusual ways. His family was constantly on his mind and in his heart, he was so very proud of his children and grandchildren for their accomplishments and personal growth. He enjoyed camping in his motorhome with his family, bantering politics with friends, and giving not only life advice but stock market advice to his grandchildren. Grant had a sense of humor that will be greatly missed by his family. He enjoyed spending time on his deck overlooking the creek that ran through his property taking in the view and sounds. He always had business advice for his family and encouraged them to follow their dreams. Funeral services will be held at Marshall Funeral Home on September 6, 2018 with visitation from 4-6 and a celebration of life directly after. Private Interment will take place at a later date in North Star Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Greenville Optimist Club.