Monday, November 20, 2023. Beloved husband of Debbie Hargate (nee: Mumm). Dear father of Cory (Elaine) Hargate, Cara (Dave) Pimperl and Wes Hargate. Dear grandfather of Brayden and Allie Spratt, Clayton and Sara Hargate, Graham and Emmett Pimperl. Dear brother of Walden (Karen) and Lisa Hargate, Sheila (Don) Carlisle and the late Stephanie Orwig. Our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, professor and friend.
Mr. Hargate was an Art Professor at Lindenwood University and enjoyed fishing, hiking, camping, golfing and motorcycling.
SERVICES: Memorial visitation will be held at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Road on Saturday, December 2, 12:00 p.m. until memorial service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Lindenwood University Art Department, A.A. or to the American Cancer Society appreciated.
It was an honor and a privilege to have been a colleague of Grant’s at Lindenwood. And to admire his talent through his exceptional skills as an artist and a mentor to students for nearly 4 decades. I am fortunate to have two of his pieces and am looking at them right now. He was a consummate creator and a wise old soul even in his younger years. The sunset must be incredible from the other side. Live in God’s love and the wonders of the Universe, my friend.
Grant was a phenomenal professor, mentor and artist. I am so happy to have known him in my lifetime and hope he is enjoying his first Grantsgiving on a different plain.
Thank you Grant for helping me see the world through my heart and soul as well as my eyes. A gentle soul and a special person who made the world a much more interesting place because of your vision. You left your family and friends a great legacy. Hugs to you my friend.
Grant had a knack for filling troop 301 camping trips with hilarity. He was kind to the boys and helped them grow their Scouting skills. He touched many lives and will be missed.
My uncle, my one to look up to as a child when I had only you and grandpa. You will be missed. I hope you get to paint with all your idols up there. You lived life like it was always on ‘11’, I hope you get a hole in one and watch over all of us while you get to hang out with all of the ones who aren’t here with us.
Say hello
Grant taught me a brand of confidence in myself as a artist, talent man and human. His creativeness and ability to express himself openly to others is a gift that i how to pass to my children with the same passion he instilled in so many of us. Love you “Big Man”! Thanks for the memories.
My heart. Professor Grant was my favorite teacher. He inspired me and encouraged me to be authentic. He gave me hope and support when I needed it most. I’m forever grateful to have had the pleasure of being Professor Grant’s painting student for several years and I’ll never forget his heart of gold. I will miss him dearly.
Grant was my art professor in the early 90s. I transferred in, and we occupied a beautiful building all to ourselves on campus. He taught every art class that I needed! He was everywhere, always smiling and supportive. I remember him best at the kilns, inside and out, also on a field trip where we went into the woods and created sculpture out of what we found there. I took art seriously, but Grant, by example, stressed that art and its expression is a joy. I will always be grateful for the time I spent at Lindenwood and with Grant. – “Red”
I struggle to put into words how meaningful this man’s existence in my life, and the lives of many others, really was. I was lucky enough to be one of his students and go to Italy with him on a study abroad trip. Those few weeks in Italy changed my life forever. Grant gave us all such wisdom just by being. He encouraged us to stop being so hard on ourselves – to just feel joy, to create for the sake of creating, to just revel in our existence – as a kid just about to leave college and enter the “real world”, those lessons were so important. I know countless students from my class and from our trip that became artists, became art educators – because of Grant. I hope he knows just how much of an impact he had. So many teachers don’t get thanked – but we made sure to thank him every day. To this day, when I created something I was proud of, he was the first one I sent a picture. to. We love you, Papa Gianni. Thank you for everything.
Grant was one of my favorite professors and dear friend. I feel honored to have been taught by him and even more so to laugh along with him. My memories with him will be forever cherished -the midget
Lindenwood lost a treasure. Heaven gained a saint.
Amen.
David’s comment sums it up
Dear Hargate Family, we are so sorry for your loss. Grant was a good friend of ours and we will miss him. Words can not describe it. He was warm, funny, talented and overall wonderful human being.
I am having a hard time putting words to how I feeling right now. I just learned minutes ago about this. Grant made such a huge impact on my life as he did many others. The world lost an amazing soul here. My heart and mind go out to the family and his extended family. Grant made a positive impact on so many lives.
We met at a Popcorn stand,
one Fall Classic a long time ago.
Shared stories sitting on folding chairs.
Never enough time for museums & art.
Grant could always throw a pot.
And never laughed when I could not.
Summer time spent learning,
(not necessarily wanting to)
about Koi & Birds.
Endless patience with me
& my constant chatter.
Grant – always with a smile.
My best friend,
I will miss you dearly.
Susan Raftery
Grant was my professor and advisor, he never held any punches and I always appreciated that about him. He taught me so much and he even provided guidance on encouraging and growing my daughter’s gift in art as well.
He will be greatly missed.
Grant is and was a force and a fierce reminder of what living on your path looks like.
It’s been over a week and I still haven’t been able to confront the fact that you are gone from this earth. It’s been almost 40 years since we first met at Lindenwood. I returned to finish my Studio Art degree and my friend Nancy was teaching a class as well. She asked who my instructor for drawing was and I said ‘Grant Hargate’, someone new to the faculty. She said with a smile, ‘you’re really going to like him’. She was right – and so our lifelong friendship began.
Grant was so knowledgeable, so smart, so talented. The depth of his artistic ability was endless. We could talk about most any subject and he was a wealth of information. I often asked how he could remember all the details, all the information….I guess is just came naturally. We shared the same appreciation for classic rock music, concerts, silly movies and treks to museums. I could never convince him that we should travel north in the summer and south in the winter. Always the consummate non-conformist, we walked the streets of Park City, UT when it was -3 F and hiked the southwest when it was 104 F, and always with pencil, pen and sketchbook in hand. Our many adventures were anything but ordinary and made for great memories. And above all, we laughed, a lot. He was excited about an off-the-grid AirBnB I found outside of Taos, NM for his summer sabbatical. No cell service, no TV – just a quiet remote place to draw and paint and enjoy the surroundings. But it wasn’t to be. Then came the diagnosis that would eventually take him from all those he loved and loved him. I will miss his smile, his laugh, his dear friendship, and all the things that made him a beautiful soul. Forever in our hearts.
One of the best professors I had at Lindenwood. I almost took pottery again just to be in his class. He allowed students to have freedom of creativity and allowed me to help with the soup bowls. Was an honor to have him as a professor.
Thank you for your art and love of teaching. You made a difference in more ways than we can ever count.
Grant was a man of a hundred different smiles. He seemed to be able to read moods and know just which smile we needed. His sense of humor was always spot-on and in a few words he could convey true empathy like few people can. I remember our last conversation, on my last day at LU, and walked away thinking how he had made LU a better place for me to work.
A beautiful soul gone too soon. I honor friends I have lost by trying to take on some of their best traits. Every day, I will aspire to be little more Grant-like.
To the Hargate Family, Bill and Mary Rosner are so sad for the loss of a clearly great Dad and the many other hats he wore. The comments are so sincere and positive of the great life he lead and all the life’s he impacted. WE wish you guys all our thoughts and prayers. I hope all of “WE” from Fontbonne softball can make your days brighter. Rest in peace sir
It is upsetting news to know that Professor Grant passed away. I had the privilege of having him as my Professor at Lindenwood University. Professor Grant made my experience at Lindenwood University memorable and meaningful, lasting lessons that helped me. In drawing class, he taught us to look past the simple things by seeing things for their details and their beauty. He also taught us not to take things too seriously and to always find humor in life. Coming to his class always made me smile, and I enjoyed having him as my Professor. I want to send my condolences to everyone in his family.
Grant was a one-of-a-kind character. He had this smirk/smile that looked mischievous, and I loved it. Grant would say off-the-wall things that cracked me up. He was my professor in college from 2000 to 2005. I had never had a teacher talk to me like he did. He was deep in thought and pushed me to think about stuff I hadn’t thought of before in art. He held me accountable for the art I did not try at and praised me when he knew I did. He was an excellent teacher who knew how to relax and let you do your thing. He taught me about “my style,” and What I learned from him greatly impacted me.
I did a painting that I worked very hard on. The day I hung it up to critique in art class is a day I won’t forget. He kept looking at it, and when it came time to critique. He took it off the floor and hung it in the center of the wall. He moved others around so it was by itself. He gave it its own space. He said tell me about this. He sat back with one leg up on the pedestal chair with his hand on his chin, admiring it. Dirty Jeans, a paint-stained t-shirt, and fantastic hair just looking at it. I told him what it meant and how the idea came to me. It was simply after 9/11 and was a riot scene. It was something I felt needed to be said and what I wanted to do but couldn’t. I had been pulled over by cops for racial profiling lots of times that year. I could only tell my tale in my art; he saw it that day. I had done lots of others, but that day, he knew what it meant. He knew the time I spent in and out of class. He looked at me and said, “Yeah..I want this. Come to me after class, and I’ll trade you a piece of my artwork.” I went to his office later that week, and he let me browse his office and told me which ones were his, but he sat on his desk smirking, haha. I took my time and picked a burnished ceramic piece of artwork I knew took time like mine. He smiled and said”Damn good choice Felix! Damn good!” He told me about it briefly, and we smiled and traded. He was a fantastic teacher. I have that art piece in my art room. I cherish it. I tell others about it as well.
I’m sorry for your loss to his family. He has made such a massive impact as you can tell, on people, and that’s something you don’t see often. He was a remarkable person and professor. I have a picture of him and me at my graduation. Grant, thanks for all you did for me. Fighting for me, the scholarship you helped me get. The small talk, the smoke breaks outside just chatting even though I didn’t smoke, and then telling me to bring you a big Buford from Rallies when I got two, haha. You were the shit, man. Even after I graduated, I drove by and honked and you always waved at me. You were amazing. I’m going to miss seeing your new artwork on your Facebook page. You truly were an artist’s hero. Thanks for the memories.
Grant was a one-of-a-kind character. He had this smirk/smile that looked mischievous, and I loved it. Grant would say off-the-wall things that cracked me up. He was my professor in college from 2000 to 2005. I had never had a teacher talk to me like he did. He was deep in thought and pushed me to think about stuff I hadn’t thought of before in art. He held me accountable for the art I did not try at and praised me when he knew I did. He was an excellent teacher who knew how to relax and let you do your thing. He taught me about “my style,” and What I learned from him greatly impacted me.
I did a painting that I worked very hard on. The day I hung it up to critique in art class is a day I won’t forget. He kept looking at it, and when it came time to critique. He took it off the floor and hung it in the center of the wall. He moved others around, so it was by itself. He gave it its own space. He said tell me about this. He sat back with one leg up on the pedestal chair with his hand on his chin, admiring it. Dirty Jeans, a paint-stained t-shirt, and fantastic hair just looking at it. I told him what it meant and how the idea came to me. It was simply after 9/11 and was a riot scene. It was something I felt needed to be said and what I wanted to do but couldn’t. I had been pulled over by cops for racial profiling lots of times that year. I could only tell my tale in my art; he saw it that day. I had done lots of others, but that day, he knew what it meant. He knew the time I spent in and out of class. He looked at me and said, “Yeah. I want this. Come to me after class, and I’ll trade you a piece of my artwork.” I went to his office later that week, and he let me browse his office and told me which ones were his, but he sat on his desk smirking, haha. I took my time and picked a burnished ceramic piece of artwork I knew took time like mine. He smiled and said, “Damn good choice, Felix! Damn good!” He told me about it briefly, and we smiled and traded. He was a fantastic teacher. I have that art piece in my living room above my fireplace. I cherish it. I tell others about it as well.
I’m sorry for your loss to his family. He has made such a massive impact, as you can tell, on people, and that’s something you don’t see often. He was a remarkable person and professor. I have a picture of him and me at my graduation. Grant, thanks for all you did for me. Fighting for me, the scholarship you helped me get. The small talk, just chatting outside in nice weather and then telling me to bring you a big Buford from Rallies when I got two, haha. You were the best. Even after I graduated, I drove by and honked, and you always waved at me. You were amazing. I’m going to miss seeing your new artwork on your Facebook page. You were an artist’s hero. Thanks for the memories.
Thank You Prof Hargate, read through all the comments above, all true…was a very very young and Grant was so instrumental in
encouragement needed when had difficulty in framing some work needed for Senior gallery show….helped me find creative way to solve the problem. Will never forget his kindness, love of the Arts, honestly, helps in critique…the letter wrote that got a scholarship after graduation 🎓. Class of 1994 misses and loved you Prof Hargate ! God bless Grant’s family. I am so sorry for your loss
Reconnecting through Instagram was so 21st Century – beautiful and humorous at the same time. I remember when you got a computer on your office desk in Harmon back in ‘96. We both talked about how we had no use for the things. And there we were, DM gangsters! I never got to tell you this, mostly because I have always been guarded with all that is sentimental, but your investment in my artistic development, like all of your students I’m sure, is what kept me going. Just when I was ready to give it all up to do something like accounting, you stepped into the picture and spared no expense to keep me on the path to creating. I would never be able to thank you enough for that. I wish I had scheduled that desired cup of coffee with you that I so longed to have after nearly 30 years living and working outside of the post secondary world, but we will just have to reserve that time for when we meet again. Thank you, friend, for impacting mine and the lives of so many people who needed an ally at vulnerable times. And more importantly for imparting a lasting impression of support for young, and now, not so young people with your unique brand of care.
So sorry to have learned of your passing old friend. To your family my condolences. I attended school with Woody at Concordia Lutheran Church & School in the 1960s and early 1970s. I was thinking of him on this anniversary of his birth. I have been told his mother and mine were roommates at the hospital where we were born, I just two days before him.
We unfortunately lost touch once I entered the military and our lives took different directions. But Woody remains one of the special persons in my heart, one who contributed to many memories of childhood and the character building events of those years. Blessed be to all your family, colleagues, and lifetime friends.
Sorry to read this. I worked construction with Grant he always made me laugh.
What an great guy.
I’m very sad to hear that Grant has passed he was the best art professor I ever had, better than all of the teachers I had at my fancy art school I ended up at. I learned the most important and valuable lessons in his drawing class in Lindenwood and when I took his study trip class in Italy. He made all of us laugh so much that entire trip. Thanks for being the best teacher you will be missed