Grant Robert Mishler died Jan. 11, 2024, at Duke University Hospital in Durham. North Carolina after a bout with Covid leading to heart failure. Born Dec. 5, 1942, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Grant was the oldest of five children born to Robert and Dorothy (Miller) Mishler. Two brothers: Steve (Lucy) and Fred (Patty); and one sister: Patricia Roswell (Robert) survive. One sister: Nancy Harrison, died in 2021.
He was surrounded in death by his devoted wife: Kay Russell; children: Darris, Denise Kerr (Scott) and Jason (Amber); and Kay's daughter: Tonya Davis (Willie). Survivors also include stepdaughters: Andrea Williams (Steven) and Bridget Borum; five grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; and a devastated cat: Fursie.
Grant was unforgettable and could talk to anyone about anything. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of sports, automobiles, historical and literary facts which contributed to the ease in earning his registered nursing degree. That degree uprooted him from Oregon to North Carolina where he worked at Duke Medical Center.
Following cremation, ashes will be scattered in Virginia and North Carolina where he owned multiple properties including an old railroad depot filled with his vast collections, including numerous Corvairs (at least 16) which were a life-long fascination. In addition, Kay will transport ashes to Iowa sometime in the summer as Grant kept a special place in his heart for his home state in spite of its recent political leanings, never losing his love for Iowa Hawkeyes, driving to Iowa to attend games with brother Fred and various nephews and nieces.
No preachers or platitudes was his request at any memorial service, but said the music of The Seekers, "The Carnival is Over" and Red Clay Ramblers, "Hot Buttered Rum" would be appropriate as well as Statler Brothers, "I've Never Lived This Long Before." He especially like the lines of that song:
"There's nothing I've done that I wish I'd done less, but there's a few I wish I'd done more."
