Pastor Ordean L. Grant, 81, of St. Charles, Minn., died on Monday, July 21, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester.

Ordean Leonard Grant was born on Nov. 18, 1932, to Leonard and Netha (Erickson) Grant in Austin, Minn. His parents operated a general store at Corning for a number of years and moved to a farm in Leland, Iowa, in 1935. Ordean started school at the age of 5 in a one-room school. In 1941, he and his family moved to a farm a half-mile north of Corning where he attended two different one-room schools. In 1950, He graduated from Austin High School. In the fall of 1950, his education continued by enrolling at Waldorf Junior College at Forest City, Iowa. While there, Ordean became acquainted with Professor Merrill Gilbertson. That allowed him the opportunity to accompany the professor on a three month trip to 14 countries in Europe and the Near East.

In the second year of college, he met Eileen Nielsen. Ordean and Eileen dated for the following three years and were united in marriage on June 24, 1955, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ringsted, Iowa. Following their marriage, the new couple lived on the farm they purchased in rural Austin. They farmed there for 12 years while Ordean also worked at several other jobs. During that time their four children were born.

In 1964, Ordean returned to college at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn., to complete his Bachelor of Arts Degree. In the fall of 1966, he enrolled at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. While at seminary he decided to pursue the call of being a pastor, so he and Eileen moved the family to St. Paul. In the Spring of 1969, Ordean graduated from Luther Seminary. He received a call to be pastor of Zion Lutheran Church at Pickrell, Neb. He accepted that call and the family moved there so that Ordean could begin his pastorate on July 20. He served there for five years and then accepted a call to be pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord, Minn. In 1982, Ordean accepted a call to serve as a team pastor at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, Wis. In 1988 he was called to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alma, Wis. where he served until his retirement in 1997. Ordean and Eileen move to St. Charles, Minn., in 1999.

Ordean is survived by his wife, Eileen; four children, Kathleen (Kevin) Olson of Lake Mills, Iowa, Marleen (Roger) Clark of Fall Creek, Wis., Dean (Cindy) Grant of Austin, Minn., and Jon (Sheila) Grant of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren, Josiah, Sarah (Taylor), Hannah (Austin), Kristen (Josh), Kayla (Evan), Emily (Chris and son, Nathan), Mark, ReyLynn, (Albert), and Chandler; three great-grandchildren, Amythyst, Anastasia, and Adelaide; and by a sister-in-law, Orlie Grant of Austin, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Lauren Grant.

The funeral service for Pastor Ordean will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in rural Austin, Minn., with Pastor Michelle Rem officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

In Lieu of flowers it was Ordean’s wish that memorials for his funeral be directed to the church of the donor’s choice or to Waldorf College. Leave a memory of Ordean and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.