Nathan William Gratz

Nathan William Gratz, 49, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly at his home on December 6th, 2025. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 2nd, 1976, and grew up in Hastings, Minnesota, where he made many lifelong friends. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in statistics, and moved to Tucson, where he worked for Pima County in Pretrial Services.

Nathan was a brilliant, hilarious, and generous soul who touched lives wherever he went. Outside of work, he was a published writer, a bar trivia savant, and an avid lover of dogs, Minnesota sports teams, Pee-wee Herman, Neil Hamburger, and Saturday Night Live. While quiet and reserved, he was also always up for a hike, road trip, or night out at the bowling lanes.

He was like family to a large group of friends dating back to early childhood, where he was beloved for his enormous heart, dry sense of humor, reliability, and love of playing and watching sports. He founded a fantasy football league in 1991 that still continues today, and was famous for his spontaneous invitations to live games. He dearly adored dogs, and his longtime Pomeranian companion “Mr. T.” was known and loved by countless people. A cherished brother and friend, Nathan will be deeply missed in his Arizona community and beyond.

Nathan is survived by his brother Evan Gratz, his nephew Beau, extended family, and many lifelong friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Janet. Memorial services are currently pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his name to Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85745.