COL WALTER I. GRANDJEAN To TAPS

COL (RET) GRANDJEAN, Walter Irving (Buster) Born Sept. 5, 1915, in San Rafael, CA passed away peacefully in his home on March 30, 2015, surrounded by loving family and friends. He grew up in Fairfax, CA, where he and his brother, Sonny, would roam the hills of Marin hunting, fishing, and picking mushrooms. He attended Mt. Tamalpais High School, and at 16 years old, joined the Merchant Marines, subsequently traveling to South America and Canada. Eventually, missing his family and friends, Walt returned home to soon join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Afterwards, he attended college and then began working at Wells Fargo's first bank in San Francisco. In 1941, during World War II, Walt was drafted into the Army. After serving his country bravely and with honor in the Burma Campaign, Walt decided on a career in the military. Consequently, he became a veteran of both the Korean and the Vietnam War as well. In 1945 he married his first wife Ruble and they had two children, Yvonne and Walter. The family was stationed in different countries around the world, including Japan and Germany, and all over the US. Drafted as a private, Walt retired from the Army in 1967 a Bronze Star recipient with the rank of Colonel. After the military, Walt and his second wife Elizabeth settled down in Santa Rosa, CA. For many years Walt served on the board of the Yulupa Water Co. and actively monitored and serviced the well system. This earned him the nickname "The Waterman" and a street named "Walt's Way". Aside from his avid passion for hunting and fishing, Walt also enjoyed gardening, classical music, cooking, camping, hiking, woodcarving, and socializing with his numerous friends. As an accomplished storyteller, sharing tales about old Marin and his amazing experiences all over the world, Walt would frequently astonish with his impeccable memory and wonderful sense of humor. He also kept up to date with current affairs, finance and politics, further making him a great conversationalist. Moreover, Walt loved animals (especially his dogs) and nature, which led him to be involved in conservation and protection efforts. But more than anything Walt really loved people. He would always say: "I've never met a bad person in my whole life". Walt himself is loved and missed by many. These include his son Walter Joseph Grandjean, his stepson Wolfgang Akossy and family, his nephew Jimmy Grandjean, his grandchildren Mark Grandjean, David Grandjean, Amy Grandjean, Lisa Dutton and husband John, Arabella Akossy and husband Dan McCaskell, and great-grandchildren Jake, Julianne, and Justine Dutton, Alexis Grandjean and Mina Grandjean. Walt is preceded in death by his wife Ruble, his wife Elizabeth, his daughter Yvonne Bond, and his granddaughter Jessica Grandjean. The family would also like to thank Walt's good friend Gale for brightening the last two years of his exceptional life.