Grant Boatman

Grant Boatman, age 86, of Fairmont, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2020, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, after a long battle with complications from COPD and Emphysema. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, there will be no service at this time. He will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, in Minneapolis, at a later date. Patton Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.PattonFH.com

Grant Marlin Boatman was born January 9, 1934 in Linn Grove, Iowa, the son of Charles Delmer and Eldora Evelyn (Malcolm) Boatman. In childhood, they moved to the Milltown Wisconsin area. He joined the US Air force as soon as he could and made a career of his service, retiring in 1973. After that he did some truck driving over-the-road for Warren until 1989. He married, Jeanne Francar and they had two children, Mark and Cathy. They later divorced. On June 29, 1970, Grant married Joyce Prescott in Tampa Florida.  Later, he adopted Joyce's 4 children, Brenda, Mike, Steve and Bobbi, and together they had Stephanie. Grant enjoyed traveling and visiting airplane museums and national parks. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races and the Green Bay Packers. Reading filled much of Grant’s time; books by Louis Lamour and William Johnston or even maps- as he loved planning the next trip. Grant loved his family and spending time however he could. He also loved his dogs and walking around the yard looking at flowers.
Grant loved to laugh and had a mischievous sense of humor. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at St. Luke’s in Blue Earth for their support and care for Grant over the past year.

Grant is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce Boatman; daughters, Brenda Joyce (Tim) Ingvoldstad, Catherine Mary VanderPerren, Bobbi Jo (Brad) Nawrocki and Stephanie Michelle (Chris) Pichner; sons, Michael Joe (Maria) Boatman, Mark Allen (Jaylene) Boatman and Darryl Stephen Boatman; brother, Miles A. Boatman; sister-in-law, Marilyn Boatman; 10 grandchildren, Mark Jr. (Heather) Boatman, Sophie (George) Boatman, Joy (Eric) Jensen, Gretchen (Scott) Cords, Eirik (Kamille) Ingvoldstad, Gregory Ingvoldstad, Emily (Ben) Anderson, Annie Nawrocki, Zander Pichner and Nathan Pichner; 11 great-grandchildren, Brynnlee Boatman, Ian Jensen, Ashton Jensen, Megan George Jensen, Kaelyn Jensen, AJ Cords, Maison Ingvoldstad, Maxden Ingvoldstad, Maddex Ingvoldstad, Bella Larsen, and Bea Anderson; also nieces, nephews and friends.

In addition to his parents, Grant is preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanne Boatman; sisters, Arla May (John) Dearson and Ardis June (John) O’Konski; brother, Charles Boatman; and son-in-law, Ray VanderPerren.