March 02, 2006

Greg Grater's valiant efforts to overcome his illness came to an end this morning!

Please keep Leanna and the boys in your prayers?

When details on the services are available they will be posted!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Grater family. Although I never met the man, he raised some very good kids. His reputation will live through them.

Though I didn't know him personally, our sport and state owe alot to this man and his family.

My dearest Sympathy to the Grater family, may God comfort you in your loss.

There are many high school wrestlers who were provided better and more opportunities because Greg Grater worked so hard in the development of Kids Wrestling and working with USA Wrestling. Kansas has lost a wonderful man that went out of his way to provide wrestling opportunities for Kansans. We'll miss you Greg.

As a wrestler who grew up in the same NCKL league as the Clay Center teams that the Grater family was know to be a big part of over the years, I'm deeply saddend to hear this news. Deep down I think the wrestler in us all knew he'd pull through, but alas he's gone. He did so much for the sport on local and national levels that will be unmatched by many. He was a great ambassador for the sport as a fan, booster, and loving father.

Clay Center, Kansas Wrestling, and USA Wrestling has lost a major contributor to our sport. It's our duties to let the memory of Greg Grater live on.

To the Grater Family: We are all there for you if you need anything. The wrestling family can't replace your loss, but we can certainly try to comfort you in the days, weeks and months ahead.

God Bless.

Prayers are with you. God Bless!

Greg's contributions to Kansas wrestling will forever be a legacy to the sport. We can never thank him and his family enough. Thoughts and prayers are with all the Grater family. God bless and be thankful for the times we had with Greg.

Kansas Kids leader Greg Grater passed away on March 2
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/02/2006

Greg Grater of Green, Kan., a USA Wrestling’s Kids wrestling leader, passed away on March 2 reportedly from complications brought on by acute pancreatitis.

Along with his wife Leanna, Greg was named 2004 USA Wrestling Kids Person of the Year for all of his contributions to youth wrestling on the local, state and national levels.

“Greg was totally committed to providing the best opportunities possible for the youth interested in wrestling,” said USA Wrestling’s State Chairperson for Kansas Mike Juby. “I learned fairly quickly that he was a highly focused man who would not accept less than the best for the wrestlers of our state.”

The Graters served as tournament directors for the Kids/Cadet National Folkstyle Championships for six years (1998-2003) and the Southern Plains Regional for many years. Greg served as a Board Member on the Corporate Board of USA Wrestling Kansas and has served as the state’s Kids Director since 1998.

In 1985, Greg re-organized the Kansas Kids Freestyle/Greco-Roman camp held annually prior to the Southern Plains Regional. Gregory also held the offices of State Director Elect (1984), State Kids Director (1985) and State Tournament Director (1987-1998). He is a bronze-level certified coach.

In 1972, Greg founded the Clay County Wrestling Club, one of the state’s largest youth wrestling clubs. He remains as the Club Director and head coach.

Greg was selected as the USA Wrestling State Person of the Year in 1997, and Leanna was named the USA Wrestling State Person of the Year in 2002.

“Over the years, Greg's contributions to wrestling have extended from his Clay Center Club, beyond the state's borders, to affect wrestlers across the nation. Our loss is truly a loss for wrestling fans throughout the country.Wrestling has lost a great supporter, and I have lost a great friend. However, the foundations that he laid, and the accomplishments that he made possible, will live on,” said Juby.

USA Wrestling offers its sincere condolences to his family and friends and asks the wrestling community to keep his wife Leanna and the boys (Courtney, Jacob, Danny and Gavin) in their thoughts and prayers.

Additional information on arrangements and memorials will be provided when available.

Prayers go out to the Grater family from here in New York. Thanks for everything he has done for the state of Kansas.

Very few people have given as much of themselves to the sport of wrestling (on all levels) as Greg Grater! He truly has been a driving force behind everything we do in our state in regards to wrestling. But most importantly, Greg was a wonderful person and I am very fortunate I got to know him. He was a wonderful human being, very funny and easy to get to know, very giving of himself and very concerned for others. He spent a great deal of time giving of himself to others. He was always very complimentary to people for a job well done!

We are all very sorry for the family, for all the friends, and for the Clay County community.

Thanks for all the lives you touched, Greg! You certainly made a difference for many, many people.

My heart felt condolences to Greg’s family. Greg always amazed me of how he could go all the time to high school and kids wrestling events. With his own family and with his Kansas Kids wrestlers, he made time for the kids in Kansas. All of Kansas wrestling will miss his talents and dedication to the sport. I am a better person for knowing Greg.

Mike Streit
Sabetha

Gregory A. Grater

GREEN - Grater, Gregory A., 54, died March 2, 2006. Service 1:30 PM Monday, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Clay Center. Survivors: wife, Leanna; sons, Courtney, Jacob, Danny, Gavin; mother, Reva; sisters, Terri Jermark, Vicki Pfizenmaier; 4 grandchildren. Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, Riley.

Published in the Wichita Eagle on 3/4/2006.