Junia Elaine Grimm Chant
March 14, 1933 - Nov. 22, 2017
Junia Elaine Grimm Chant passed away peacefully at her home in Fairhope, Alabama on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, after a long, beautiful life.
Junia was born and grew up on her parent's farm in Elk Grove Township, which later became part of Mount Prospect, Illinois. She graduated from St. John Lutheran Elementary School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Arlington Heights High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois and attended Northern Illinois University.
She was married to the love of her life, Edward "Ed" H. Chant Jr. for 63 years. Throughout their married life, they lived in Des Plaines, Illinois, Mequon, Wisconsin, Marengo, Illinois, Cornwall, New York and Fairhope, Alabama.
While in New York, they loved to visit New York City and enjoyed attending Lutheran Church Services at West Point Military Academy in the Old Cadet Chapel.
Through the years, Junia was active in many church, civic and community affairs, and served on many boards, including as president of Marengo Woman's Club. She loved oil painting, traveling, bridge, history, acting in plays in her earlier days, and was a voracious reader.
Most of all, Junia loved her family. Her happiest times were spent with her beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and Ed traveled to every event (graduations, weddings and the like), no matter how far, to be part of their lives. Junia also cherished and loved her many, many friends.
She will always be remembered for her inner and outer beauty, her strength, courage, grace and her abundance of caring. To know her was to love her. She always made everyone feel special and truly cared about them. She loved people and they loved her.
Junia was preceded in death by her parents, Martha Rose Moellenkamp Grimm and Ernest Emil Grimm; and her niece, Susan Hollembaek.
Junia is survived by her devoted husband, Edward; and their two children, Scott Chant (Elizabeth) and Cathleen Walton (Robert); six beloved grandchildren, Rebecca (Neil), Robert (Katherine), Sarah (Ty), Karen, Tom and Sarah; and five great-grandchildren, Elaine, Michael, Anna, Saylor Ann and Easton. She is also survived by her loving sister and brother, Lorene Hollembaek (Hugh) and Ernest Grimm (Pat); and many beloved nieces and nephews and treasured cousins.
A private memorial service to celebrate Junia's life was held in Fairhope, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 412 Jackson St., Marengo, IL 60152, 815-568-6564, or Redeemer Lutheran Church, 200 S. Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-928-8397.
