William Karl Gramzow IV

William Karl Gramzow IV, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 13, 1964 to William III and Nancy Gramzow. He was one of four children. Bill passed away peacefully in his Redford Twp., MI home on Friday, August 30, 2024 at the age of 60.

Bill was the beloved brother of Cynthia (Ron) Cleland, Julie (Paul) Snoes, and Gregory (Jennifer) Gramzow. Loving uncle of Jessica (Ben) Del Sol, Christopher (Nicole) Cleland, Katherine (Luther) Jolliff, James (Jill) Gramzow, and Charlotte Gramzow. Great-uncle of Sofia Del Sol, Adrian Del Sol, and Peter Gramzow. Dear nephew of the late Kenneth (the late Irene) Sieloff, the late Norma Kraning, Diane (George) Ford, Bill (the late Carol) Woodfin, and the late Janet (the late Alan) Kroening. Bill will also be missed by many cousins and dear friends.

All years of Bill’s Christian education, from kindergarten through graduate school, were through the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. He achieved his bachelor’s degree in 1986 and his Master’s of Church Music 1991 from Concordia University - River Forest, Illinois. After graduation in 1986, Bill began teaching 5th grade, organist and choir director for all school and church choirs at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hartland and continued there until 2009. His career changed at that time to organist and choir director at Our Lady of Sorrows - Farmington, which continued until October, 2021 when he became ill and unable to work. He suffered from extreme anxiety. In January, 2024 Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His health became increasingly fragile until his death.

When Bill was four or five years old, he got a record player and listened to J.S. Bach recordings for hours at a time. That was an early indication of his love for church music. He sang in church choirs all through grade school. When his class was being confirmed (age 14), Bill moved to the organ and accompanied the class in their confirmation hymn. After the service, members stopped us and said “I didn’t know Bill played the organ”. We responded “We didn’t know either!”

Bill’s church organist career began when he was 15. He began playing as a substitute organist and then started as full-time organist at several churches until he graduated from high school and left for college.

Bill used his God-given gift of music in service to the Lord. To hear the joy and excitement in his playing was a true joy. Several of his former fifth grade students are now organists, due to the love of music he instilled in them.

Bill’s family came first. He included all of them in his daily routine of phone calls, messages and funny stories he found on YouTube or other social networks. He had a million-dollar smile and a Christian demeanor.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”. (Job 1:21)

Bill's family will receive friends for a visitation at Harry J. Will Funeral Home 37000 Six Mile, LIvonia, MI 48152 from 4pm until 8pm on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Bill's life will be celebrated with a service at the funeral home on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 11am. The service will be led by The Reverend Doctor David Stechholz of Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit.

Bill will be laid to rest in Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park, Livonia, Michigan. The committal will be led by Reverend Mark Braden of Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit.

Memorial donations may be made in William's name for the ORE scholarship at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, which is a scholarship specifically for organ players.

Those wishing to make an online memorial gift for William may do so at the secure online giving page link below. For donation category, select “other”; in the comments section below, simply type “William Gramzow memorial.”

Checks to be made payable to: Concordia University and in the memo section, please write: "William Gramzow IV memorial".

Please leave the family a message of condolence or share a treasured memory by selecting "Add a Memory" below.