Ever since Warren came to Fraser he was hands down the kids favorite basketball coach, both boys and girls! He always had a kind word for them, and then a piece of candy or gum none of us had a chance! He always treated me the exact same way, he was definitely one of the good guys! If There's a gym in heaven they better be working hard. We will miss him in ours that's for sure. RIP Warren



Let me begin by saying this world has lost a great man. I coached against Warren way back in 1978 ....St Margaret vs. St Brendan ( Joe Herbertson and his teammates) We had some good times, with both teams battling to the end. Over the years as a coach and a ref I would run into Warren in a gym somewhere and we would always go back to our CYO days. He was a person who truly cared about others and it showed. Rest In Peace Warren. You touched a lot of lives in a positive way and made this world a better place.

15 years ago, Coach Lockhart would have us practice late on Sunday nights. Because the water fountains in the gym hadn't been used all weekend, they would disperse warm water until you ran them for an extended period of time. Once Coach Warren realized this, he would sit in a chair and hold the water fountain button for 15+ minutes (while we ran sprints), so that the water would be cold when we were done.

Coach Warren was a great basketball coach and mentor. But what I'll remember most about him was how genuine he was and how much he cared about us. Before or after practice, he'd ask us how school was going, how our families were, offer us a stick of gum.

Funny how after all these years I don't remember the drills or all the coaching tips, or even the wins and losses, but I do remember that Coach Warren made sure we always had cold water - because that's just the type of person he was.

Rest in peace, coach.



Coach Warren and Coach Lockhart were my first coaches at GPN. They were always so good to me from day one and I’m forever grateful for everything they’ve done for me. Coach Warren was my shooting guru. Whenever I got in a slump or needed to tweak something, coach Warren was always able to fix it. Sometimes he would even tape my ankles before practices if the trainers were running late or weren’t there that day. And of course he always had a pocket full of bubble gum for anyone who wanted a piece. His love for the game and his players was obvious and I feel very blessed to have gotten the chance to know him. Rest easy in heaven Coach. 

RIP, Warnie. You were a great coach and an even better man. 

Warren was my basketball coach for 4 years at St. Brendan’s on the east side of Detroit. He was a great coach and positive role model for my later years as a player, coach, and teacher. I’m sure the same thing could be said by countless other young men he coached and mentored. RIP, Warnie. Gone, but never forgotten!

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He raised and mentored Matthew Lockhart, Frank Tibaudo, and Frank Cardenas. Warren enjoyed spending time with his adopted grandchildren: Matthew, Morgan and Riley. He enjoyed going out to dinner and getting ice cream with his lifelong friend, Gary Gunst.

OBITUARY

Warren Eugene Gravlin

June 29, 1923 – January 21, 2019

Kaul Funeral Home

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