Stephen Gragg

Gregarious, outgoing, friendly and kind; family and friends mourn the loss of a man whose gifts of storytelling and humor have left a lasting impression that will always be remembered and cherished. Those fortunate enough to have known him well are deeply saddened by their loss.

Mr. Gragg grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and developed a passion for the game of golf. His abilities awarded him numerous accomplishments including the Oklahoma Junior Golf championship. After graduating from high school he proudly served in the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Colorado. After college Mr. Gragg began a career as a Professional Golf Association (PGA) member. He worked his way up the ranks by serving as an assistant professional at the Kansas City Country Club, where he became friends with legendary golfer, Tom Watson. He acquired his first head professional position at the Rock Island Arsenal Country Club in Illinois. He also held head professional jobs at the Spencer Country Club, in Iowa, and the San Luis Obispo Golf & Country Club, in California. In 1971, he was honored as the Iowa PGA Player of the Year. He played on the PGA tour in 1975. The rigors of traveling and keen competition were considerable. A newspaper story on Mr. Gragg quoted him saying, “I wasn’t very successful (on the tour) but I had a great time.”

Within the span of his golfing career, Mr. Gragg took time to become a business owner and opened a ski shop in Dillon Colorado, the Sporting House, which served customers with top rate merchandise and equipment rentals for over ten years.

Upon completion of his golf and ski business, Mr. Gragg was appointed President and assumed management duties of his father’s advertising business, Rocky Mountain Outdoor Advertising of Golden, Colorado.

Mr. Gragg served on the Golden, Colorado Parks & Recreation Board. He was active in the Golden Rotary Club for many years. A devout University of Colorado football fan, Mr. Gragg was also a long-time member of the Buff Club in Boulder, Colorado. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colorado. He and his wife were avid travelers - having spent considerable time abroad in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the South Pacific.

Son of the late Louis W. Gragg and Betty Jane Gragg, he is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Willman) Gragg, to whom he was married to for 27 years. He is also survived by; son Stephenson Gragg and his wife, Karen, of Moline, Illinois; daughter E. Ashley Gragg of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren, Brennan, Ian, Gabrielle and Aubrie; sister Wynne Gragg of Scottsdale, Arizona; brother Matthew Gragg and his wife, Sandy, of San Antonio, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 23, 2012 at Peace Lutheran Church, 5675 Field Street, Arvada, Colorado, 80002, followed by a Celebration of Life at Fossil Trace Golf Club, 3050 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado. Arrangements are being made by Olinger Woods Chapel, 1100 Washington Ave., Golden, Colorado, 80401, 303-279-4575. Flowers may be sent to the Peace Lutheran Church. Online thoughts and condolences may be posted to http://www.olingerwoodschapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Gragg’s name may be made to a memorial fund established at the Bank of the West, 701 13th Street, Golden, Colorado, to honor Steve with a memorial bench at the Fossil Trace Golf Club. All remaining contributions will be donated in Mr. Gragg’s name to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, or online at: https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/donateonlinenow/index?from=hpbox

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