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Jerry's obituary was listed in the Augusta, Kansas Gazette. He died on October 24th, 2007. He was a high school teacher at Bluestem High School in Leon, KS.
Tribute & Message From The Family
Jerry L. Gronau, age 58, Augusta, Kansas, formerly of Kansas City, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, October 24, 2007.
Jerry was born in Kansas City, Kansas, January 10, 1949 to Raymond and Mary (Morgan) Gronau. He attended Highland Elementary School in Mission, Kansas. Jerry and his parents moved to Mankato, Minnesota where he graduated from high school. He couldn't wait to move away from all that snow in Minnesota! Jerry graduated from Kansas State University, worked for General Electric, and as a sales representative for Edy's Ice Cream. He returned to college and received his Master's Degree in Education from Ottawa University. He taught at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kansas and most recently at Bluestem High School near Wichita. Jerry is survived by his parents of Overland Park, Kansas.
A celebration of Jerry's life will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 28th at D. W. Newcomer & Sons Johnson County Cahapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue. Cremation, private internment. A reception with family and friends will be held at the chapel following the service. Contributions in Jerry's name are suggested to the K-State Athletic Department.
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Phil Meyer
I first met Jerry when his family moved to Mankato and Jerry got drafted onto the Tigers little league baseball team when he was 12 years old. He made the All-Star team that year as a pitcher and shortstop. If my memory is good, we did very well that year.
Jerry LOVED Kansas State University and always talked of going there. He really loved playing basketball and along with Bob Ekstam set up a backyard basketball tournament (3 on 3) based on the NCAA college basketball tourney. The basket was lowered to around 8 or 9 feet so short people could dunk.
Robert Ekstam
I was shocked and saddened to learn of Jerry's passing. My first recolletion of meeting Jerry was at the Town Theater, when a group of N. Kato kids bumped into Jerry and his entourage from Franklin. He became one of my best friends in high school, probably because of our love of college basketball. We played together in the Saturday Morning Basketball League with Jim Ryan, Bruce Hartwell, Bob Flatequal, Dean Anderson, Jim Fredrickson, Rich Sundheim, and Al Christiansen. Jerry had several nicknames: G-Man and Shocker come to mind. We lost touch when we graduated from college and went our own way. Once his parents moved to Kansas Jerry had little reason to return to Mankato. I heard he attended a reunion, probably the 35 year, which I couldn't attend. I always thought our paths would cross some day soon and we would catch up on our lives.
I know that Jerry left the corporate world to become a teacher, and who can't admire that. Two glowing comments posted by his former high school students are copied below. In retrospect it is no surprise that Jerry was a gifted teacher who could reach high school students. RIP, Shocker.
Robert Ekstam
Senor Gronau,he was one of the most interesting teachers i have ever had. There was no way i would ever forget this man. It makes me teary eyed to think of all the things he did for the students at Piper High School. He will dearly be missed. I hope to join his family as we all the remember the great and wonderful things he did and the smiles he left on tons of peoples faces. Senor, you will dearly be missed. As well,my prayers go out to the Gronau family in this time of loss.
Posted by: Rachel Russell Dec 12, 2008
Jerry was one of my all time favorite teachers! He made me laugh all the time, even if he wasn't trying to be funny. He knew me as "Pip Squeak", even though that wasn't my real name, but a lot of my close friends called me that so I didn't mind it. He would even let me sign my papers as Pip Squeak! It was great! I remember his most memerable stories about the chupacabra and how goofy yet interseting
Jerry was one of my all time favorite teachers! He made me laugh all the time, even if he wasn't trying to be funny. He knew me as "Pip Squeak", even though that wasn't my real name, but a lot of my close friends called me that so I didn't mind it. He would even let me sign my papers as Pip Squeak! It was great! I remember his most memerable stories about the chupacabra and how goofy yet interseting they were; he was always into urban legends like that, but they were pretty cool.
He was such a great guy and a wonderful teacher, I hope his close friends and family know that many kids thought this about him at our school; he was a living legend! I will definitely keep him in my prayers. He was the best Spanish teacher, and definitely the funniest, that I've ever had. God Bless Senior G & his friends and family who have suffered. He will be missed dearly.
-Pip Squeak
Posted by: Nicolette Cummings, or as he knew me, Pip Squeak Dec 12, 2008
Paul Bohnert
Jerry Gronau........I too met Jerry at a young age when we played for the Tigers little league team. The most memorable thing that sticks with me is, that Jerry could throw the baseball equally as well right handed OR left handed ! Evidently when he broke his arm at a younger age he started throwing with the "other" arm and became quite proficiant at it. I only know one other kid that could throw with either arm and that was Gary DeRemer, he was a few years older than us. We all lived in the "hilltop" area so we knew each other as kids.
Also, I remember Jerry had a favorite saying that went something like this....."Spare me the candorous slurs you knave!" Funny what you remember about some people after all these years have passed. Jerry was always laughing and had a great attitude toward life. I DID see him at only one of our many reunions and he still looked great and was in great spirits, laughing and carrying on as he did. Quite the Jerry for sure............