Kevin Leroy Graesser was born on Nov. 12, 1961, at the Rosebud Community Hospital in Winner, SD, to Walter & Arlene (Lebert) Graesser, and died Feb. 23, 2021 at the Avera Gregory Hospital surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma.
He was the third of four children, Rod, Steve, Kevin, and Karen. Kevin grew up on the family farm southwest of Dallas where he would later return to raise his family until his death.
In 1980 he graduated from Colome High School. He initially attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD on a basketball scholarship. He would transfer to South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, where he graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Following graduation, Kevin returned to Gregory and worked as a feed salesman while helping on his family farm.
He was united in holy matrimony to Tammy (Thomas) on Aug. 1, 1987 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gregory, SD. They moved to Brookings for a short time before making their way to Mitchell, SD, where Kevin took a job as a loan officer in Parkston, SD. Though they only lived in Mitchell for a short while, they were blessed with many life long friendships. It was also here where their first two children, Derek and Alisyn, were born.
Kevin and his family would then return to his family farm following the retirement of Kevin’s parent’s to join his brother Rod. In May 2008 Kevin and Tammy completed their family with the addition and blessing of Regan Ruth. Kevin had a strong passion for the cattle business. He built a successful cow operation along with a registered Angus bull business. Again, Kevin was able to create lasting relationships, much in part due to his kind and honest spirit.
Since a young age, Kevin would follow in his father’s footsteps with his love for sports. He was an avid Twins and Vikings fan. As a child Kevin would sit for hours playing with football and baseball cards, along with playing catch with his brother Steve. This passion would continue throughout his life as he excelled in athletics even into the later years of his life. In 1979 as a junior in high school Kevin would go on to score 64 points and pull down 24 rebounds in a 103-90 win against Delmont. His love for the game continued throughout his life as a coach in baseball, basketball, and football at various levels. One of Kevin’s greatest joys was coaching his son Derek’s teams. Kevin played amateur baseball up until 2019 and had the opportunity to participate in an Amateur World Series over 30 tournament. The passion he had for sports was felt by many of his players, fans, and opponents.
Kevin loved his family dearly, building relationships and friendships with everyone – meeting people where they were at, empowering and leading the many players that he coached. He was unselfish, offering love and friendship unconditionally. His kindness was abundant, genuinely caring about the community and village he had created and surrounded himself and his family by. He was a devoted father and took every opportunity he had to spend with his children.
Kevin, a faithful servant, trusting God in the best of days and in the darkest of days. His faith constant without waiver. He served on St. Joseph Catholic Parish Council and Knights of Columbus at the time of his passing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Arlene, and brother, Steve.
He is survived by his wife Tammy, children Derek (Cheyenne) Graesser, Alisyn (Jeff) Donnelly, and Regan Graesser; grandchild to-be Baby Donnelly; his siblings Rod (Beverly) Graesser, Dallas, SD and Karen (Jim) Baumgartner, Iona, SD; in-laws Dick & Vickie Thomas, Gregory, SD; Greg Thomas, Ainsworth, NE; Jessy (Brett) Kenzy, Iona, SD; Jenny (Matt) Mangulis, Mankato, MN; Sarah (Jon) Sperl, Gregory, SD and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Kevin Graesser, age 59, of Dallas, South Dakota, were held on Monday, March 1, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St Joseph Catholic Church, Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon as celebrant. There was a visitation and prayer service Sunday night at the church.
Burial was in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Gregory, SD.
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