| z |
| s |
| s |
 |
 |
| April 20, 1989 |
| August 16, 2004 |
 |
| I went to school with Grant at St. Joes for over five years and we've been great friends that entire time. I was on Coach Gray's diocesan winning championship team with him and on NCC's junior high undefeated football team. Grant was a great person, a fighter, an inspiration to all of us, and one of my best friends. I remember it like it was yesterday, playing football after countless days of school until it got dark and sometimes even a little after and playing March Madness until I got too frustrated that he kept beating me with those JayHawks. Those were some of the best times of my life and they felt like they were just yesterday. A few days after his arm was amputated I asked him how he was feeling and his response was, "It could be worse." He didn't complain about how much it hurt or how he hated life and how unlucky he was. He kept his chin up and responded positively with, "It could be worse." I myself could think of nothing worse that could possibly happen to such an undeserving person. That in itself should inspire everyone who knew him to respond to problems with courage and without fear because our problems aren't comparable to what he had gone through and endured for the last years of his life The past several days I've woken up hoping and wishing with all my might that it was just a dream, but I finally realized that he has left this place to go to a better one. I felt selfish for wanting him to stay on this earth because he should be in heaven with God making him smile and laugh like he has always done for everyone he has ever known. I and everyone who knew him will miss him a great deal and we all love him. I will continue to pray for him and Glenna. I hope she remains strong and deep down I know she will because Grant must have gotten his courage and strength from her. With all the love I can give, Clinton Ciani |
| Grant, You will be missed by all, and you will live on in the lives of your family and friends. I will never forget the one night I got to hang out with you. I've never seen a braver or stronger person in my life. You will be in my thoughts and in my prayers. You keep smiling in heaven. Thank you for teaching me what a hero really is. Rest peacefully............ Tyler Tavel |
| Page Two |
| Rest in peace dear bud we will miss you always but u will never be forgotten you will always be in mine and everyone one elses hearts. Dont worry about us we will be fine it just might take awhile to recover but we will rise again. My sympathy to the Janszen family!! The Pope Family |
| Dear Grant, I want to say thank you for showing us all the real meaning of endurance, strength and courage. You've touched many hearts. Now that you are in Heaven with God you can spread your angel wings and fly. Your journey here on earth is through, but your journey with God is forever. May peace be with you Grant. And Glenna, may God give you peace and strength. You are in my thoughts and prayers every day. All My Love Fran Rose |
| Grant! Your smile and perverted jokes will forever keep me smiling until I get to see you again. I miss you already but I know you are in good hands now and no longer in pain. No matter what, you kept your sense of humor through it all, and that shows just how brave you really were. I love you buddy, you were much more than just a cousin to me, you were like my best friend. Can't wait to get up there and see how your pimping is coming along. Love You!! Megan Lang |
| Dear Grant, I remember the day you were born. I remember the parties and campouts at your house in California, Ky. I remember you on the soccer field, tough as nails! I remember the tube wars and jumping off cliffs in Lake Cumberland with you. I remember when you fell into the campfire in the middle of the night and ended up in the hospital severely burnt. I'll always remember your perpetual smile and how you could light up a room when you walked in. We always knew when Grant was around! I remember the day that you were diagnosed with cancer. But, what I know I will never forget as long as I live is how you handled such a heavy burden. You faced more in 22 months that what most people face in a lifetime with a courage and style that was typical of you. I don't recall ever hearing you complain, everytime we were with you, you made the rest of us feel like you didn't have cancer. You were the one that pulled us through. You are the bravest guy I know. I know your dad, Sara, Rachael, Drew, Lee and mom, along with so many other family members and friends are going to miss you, but I know too that you are home safe now. Heaven will never be the same again. Hard telling what you must be up to, but I know whatever it is, it is with a smile on your face. You could light up a room and I know you'll surely light up heaven. We'll miss you, Mark, Vicki, Lauren and J.D. Schmerge |
| GRANT RADIANT AWESOME NICE TERRIFIC I KNOW GRANT BECAUSE HE IS MY BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. I HAVE KNOWN HIM SINCE KINDERGARTEN AND THE MOMENT WE SAID HI TO EACH OTHER WE NEVER REALLY REALIZED WE WOULD BE COME EACH OTHERS BEST FRIENDS, NOR DID WE EVER IMAGINE WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED RECENTLY. GRANT IS THE STRONGEST PERSON I KNOW MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, PHYSICALLY I MEAN THAT IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS OF GOING THROUGH CHEMO AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THINGS HE WAS STILL ALWAYS STRONGER THAN ME. EVEN WHEN HE LOST HIS ARM I THINK IT STILL TOOK BOTH OF MY HANDS TO OUT STRENGTHEN HIS ONE HAND THAT WASN'T EVEN HIS DOMINATE HAND. MEMORIES OF ME AND GRANT COULD GO ON FOR DAYS, AND I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START OR WHICH ONES TO MENTION. THE ONES THAT DO MEAN THE MOST TO ME AND THE MOST MEMORABLE ONES ARE THOSE ONES WE SPENT TOGETHER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. ALTHOUGH HE HAD CANCER AND WE COULDN'T DO MANY ACTIVE THINGS THEY WERE STILL THE BEST. NEVER IN OUR LIVES WERE WE CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AND COULD TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. WE WOULD STAY UP FOR HOURS AFTER WE SAID, " GOOD NIGHT MOM(GLENNA) WERE REALLY TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED." WE WOULD STAY UP AND TALK ABOUT HIS FEELINGS ON DEATH AND HOW MUCH PAIN HE WAS IN AND HOW HE WAS FEELING. BUT WE JUST DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SAD STUFF. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE GOOD TIMES AND HOW COOL THINGS WOULD BE WHEN HE DOESN'T HAVE CANCER ANYMORE. BUT EVERY NIGHT WHETHER WE TALKED ABOUT GOOD THINGS OR BAD THINGS WE WOULD ALWAYS END OUR WORDS WITH A "GOODNIGHT" AND "I LOVE YOU." NO MATTER HOW THIS KID WAS FEELING HE WOULD MAKE U LAUGH HE IS THE FUNNIEST KID ON EARTH. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IN THEM FIRST 5 MINUTES THEY WERE ON THE GROUND LAUGHING. I NEVER KNEW SOMEONE THAT COULD TURN SUCH BAD THINGS IN TO GOOD THINGS. I REMEMBER HIM SAYING TO ME ONE NIGHT. "MATTHEW IF I DIDN'T GET CANCER WE WOULDN'T BE THIS GOOD OF FRIENDS SO THATS ONE GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF ME HAVING CANCER." I ALMOST CRIED. NOW I KNOW IF I HAD LOST MY ARM I WOULD STILL BE CRYING TO THIS DAY, GRANT ON THE OTHER HAND NOT A WEEK LATER FROM THE AMPUTATION AND HE'S THROWING JAB PUNCHES WITH HIS AMPUTATED ARM THAT HE NAMED "STUMP" ALSO BEING A PERVERTED TEENAGER THAT WE ALL ARE SOMETIME IN OUR TEENAGE LIVES GRANT ACTED LIKE HE WAS MASTURBATING WITH "STUMP" BUT BY FAR HIS BEST TRICK WAS THE DISCO IF U HAVEN'T SEEN THAT THEN UR MISSING OUT ON A GREAT LAUGH. I MISS HIM GREATLY NOW AND WISH HE WAS BACK. I FEEL SELFISH FOR SAYING THAT THOUGH BECAUSE HE'S IN A BETTER PLACE WITH NO PAIN. GRANT IS ALWAYS IN MY MEMORIES AND I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM OR ANY OF OUR TIMES TOGETHER. I STILL WISH HE WAS HERE AND DIDN'T GET CANCER IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL AT KANSAS TOGETHER AND BE ROOMMATES. BUT YET I STILL CAN WAIT TILL COLLEGE BECAUSE HE WILL STILL BE THERE WITH ME AND BE MY ROOMMATE, HE WILL BE WITH ME WHEREVER I GO, AND WHERE EVER I, AM. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE KNOWING THAT IM NOT EVER WALKING BY MYSELF. I WILL NOW WAKE UP KNOWING THAT I AM A STRONGER PERSON BECAUSE OF THIS, AND I KNOW IT IS HARD TO LOOK FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THIS SADNESS BUT IM TRYING TO DO WHAT GRANT WOULD DO LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN ALL THINGS. I SAY TO U GRANT NOW MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD I LOVE YOU AND U WILL ALWAYS BE MY FRIEND BECAUSE THERE NO ONE OUT THERE LIKE U AND I WILL MISS YOU GREATLY GOOD BYE AND I LOVE YOU. YOUR BEST FRIEND, MATTHEW P.S TO GLENNA WHO IS THE STRONGEST PERSON I KNOW ALONG WITH GRANT. AND I WILL ALWAYS BE HER LITTLE SLAVEBOY AND I LOVE HER VERY MUCH TOO AND GRANT PLEASE WATCH OVER YOUR MOM, LIKE I KNOW U ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER AND I LOVE YOU GLENNA.( WHO IS MY SECOND AND ALSO ONE OF MY NEW BEST FRIENDS) |
 |
| grant, you were a very good friend to me and mostly to matthew. I will always have you in my heart and in my mind. Now that I cant have u make me laugh ill remember the times u did. since the end of fifth grade ive considered you a good friend to me. you and matthew were always at my hosue or i was always with you guys down matthews. just remember that no matter what everyone will alwyas think of you and you can watch over your friends and family. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU LIKE NO OTHER!!!!! YOUR FRIEND JEN! |
| To Grant and Glenna, Although I have not had the pleasure to meet you in person, I feel I have known you through our mutual email friends. I have prayed for your comfort and peace as Grant has journeyed home to heaven. As you both now have another new life to begin, still together forever in your hearts. Be not afraid, trust that this is all part of God's plan. Heaven knows that the path we must walk on this earth is not only for our own experience but for all of those we touch in this life on earth. You have touched my life - your demonstrated courage and endurance through a difficult journey, your faith and love have set an example that will not be forgotten. May God bless you always, Lisa Hennessy |
| Dear Grant, Grant you are the strongest person I know and I am glad to know you. Even thought Grant is gone and you can't see him you know he is here. Sincerely, Michael Collins |
| Grant Janszen, a name, a person who will never be forgotten. He was like a brother to me. We could talk about anything. Every time we were together he was always smiling and always made sure I had a smile on my face. Grant is such an inspiration in my life and in everyone's lives. He will be watching us from the greatest place of all, HEAVEN. *I'LL LOVE YOU GRANT ALWAYS AND FOREVER!* ~Liz Steinmetz~ |
| I never had the pleasure of meeting Grant,but my son coached him,& told me many good stories about their times together. I feel I have known Grant for a long time. He was a definite inspiration on my son's life. My son always talked about him ,how courageous he was & how he always had a smile on his face.I am very familiar with the disease that took Grant from us,my mother & father passed away a year apart in the late 1960's. To the Janszen family please accept my sympathy. Grant is up in Heaven rooting for the Jayhawks. You have seen the movie "Angels In The Outfield",well there will be a new Angel on the court, & Grant will be the Angel behind the Kansas basketball bench. Look for him he will be there. Tim Gray (Coach Kevin Gray's Dad). Our prayers are with Grant & his family. |
| Grant: We all miss you greatly, especially in school we miss you always cracking a joke to make someone laugh when they were down. You had the most courage and mental and physical strength out of any body that I know. You stayed strong and had a positive attitude every day that you had cancer. You are a role model to a lot of people. Even though you passed away I know that you are having the best time of your life in heaven right now. And I know that you are watching over all of us. I love you man and you made me a better person. And I thank you for that. We will always keep you in our hearts. Rest in Peace, Ryne Heck |
| Grant you were dear to the school, and to our family. Now through your eyes God has favor with us. We all thank you for inspiring us through your struggle, and I pray one day I am as strong as you are.. your dear friend, Joe Tallarigo |
| Grant, Your an inspiration to us all, and im sure right now God is showing you off to all the other angels.... may you enjoy your time up there and all of us down here can't wait to see you again. Your the man, Joe Tallarigo |
| We did not have the pleasure of meeting Grant. We did feel like we new him through the e-mail updates. From what we have read, it seems that he loved to laugh and even more than that, loved to make others laugh. He was so brave, giving and selfless, even through the worst of times. Everyone that knew Grant or knew of him will miss him deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Derek, Jennifer and Emma Hogle |
| To Grant, his family and his friends: You probably do not know me, but my name is Joe Seiter and I am a graduate from BBHS. I never had the chance to meet Grant but I feel like I have known him for years. I hear how much courage he had and he never let anything get him down, even at the hardest times. Grant is an inspiration to me, and you, the family and friends, should be proud of how you all helped shape who he was. If only we could all be half of a great person that Grant was, the world would be a much greater place. Every day, I drive on the Double A to get into Alexandria and I see that big billboard with his face on it and it now reads, "Grant loved forever; Forgotten Never." And it speaks only the truth... Grant we love you and we will never, ever forget you. Thanks for being an inspiration to me and for making me realize a lot of things. I hope your lookin' down from time to time cause I'll be lookin up. Your friend you never met, Joe Seiter '02 |
| Grant was one of my best friends if not the best and just a great guy. He was a great friend to me in so many ways -some ways he probably didn't even know he was.Sometimes I wasn't his greatest friend but i tried to be because I know he would do the same for me if I was going through it. Because that's his personality which he had a great one. Not only because he was the funniest kid I ever knew but because of how strong he was when going into cancer and all the way through it. I admire him for that because I know I could never be half as strong as he was through these past two years. I have known Grant for a long time but we didnt become close till about 5th or 6th grade and then we had so much fun 7th grade year and it looked like eighth grade was going to be the same. We were wrong, we still had fun with Grant through cancer but it was harder but in some ways not because he was so upbeat and always happy. I regret some things but I guess I never thought August 16 would come until about last Saturday because it never really sank into me. It has been very hard for me because of this. I have so many memories of Grant, and so much to thank him for because him and his mom have changed me alot. I wouldnt be the same person I am now if it wasnt for him so I thank him. And I wouldnt probably be close to Matthew if it wasnt for him because Grant was good friends with Matthew but me and Matthew hated each other but Grant brought us to be friends. It will be hard to get over the death and remember the good things about Grant but it will come and I know he will help me and everyone else. Just looking at pictures makes it better. I miss him and I always will. Grant I thank you for eveything thing you've done for me. Love you Your friend, Patrick |
| I would like to thank everyone for their love, prayers, visits and tears for Gant. (I called him "My Lil GANT") Gant meant so much to so many people, and seeing all the outpouring of love these past few days has been overwhelming. I am so proud to have been a part of his life. I am still so saddened that we were not able to go on the cruise that he and I talked about so often. But, I know that he is on the best cruise he could ever wish. The Cruise of life. I got to know Gant on a different level. I was his aunt. The "cool aunt..." I learned of his wishes and dreams, and spent many nights at the hospital with him during his chemo days. He was defintely one of a kind, and I know he is heaven with my dad (his grandpa) welcoming him home with open arms. I will forever miss Gant, and there will not be a day that will go by that I will not wear a smile in all his memories. Thanks again for all the love and support. It means so much to me that Gant was so loved!!! I love you Gant, you will always be my lil Gant and my lil rascal!!!!! Love, Aunt Jenny P.S. My "GUMP CAR" has your angel sticker so you will forever be riding in the Gump Car. |
| MANY YEARS AGO I GOT THE NICKNAME JENNY GUMP FOR ALL THE BAD LUCK I WAS HAVING....AFTER THE YEARS HAD PASSED, GRANT WAS NICKNAMED "GUMP 2," BECAUSE OF ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO HIM. WELL FROM ONE GUMP TO ANOTHER YOU ARE DEFINTELY "GUMP 1" AND WILL ALWAYS BE "GUMP 1!" AND YOU ARE DRIVING A NEW GUMP CAR IN HEAVEN...... ALL MY LOVE, "GUMP 2" "AUNT JENNY GUMP" |
| DEAR GRANT, YOU WERE SUCH A JOY TO HAVE AS A GRANDSON. YOUR STRENGTH AND COURAGE WERE OVERWHELMING AND I AM SO PROUD YOU WERE PART OF MY FAMILY. I WILL MISS YOU, AND I KNOW ALL YOUR COUSINS WILL MISS YOU TOO. GIVE GRANDPA LOTS OF HUGS FOR ME. YOU WERE THE BEST!!! I LOVE YOU, LOVE, GRANDMA JANSZEN "AKA GRANDMA TIC TAC" |
| Hey even thought i didn't know you that well, of what i did know of you, you were one of the greaest people that i know. When i heard that you passed, it was one of the worst days for me. The last thing i told you was that you could die without us getting to know each other better. I'm sorry that i didn't get to know you as well as i would have liked to. But you meant so much to me the way it is. I know that you meant the world to so many other people. Now that you are no longer with us physical you are still with us in our hearts. You are in a better place, and you will be an angel forever, and when we meet we will fly on eagle wings. Grant we will never forget you. Your Friend, Brett Moss |
| -- Grant was one of my bestfriends. I came to St Joes in the 5th grade and i ddint know anyone and then i met patrick waters and clinton. They were my new freinds and then in the 6th grade i met Grant. Me and grant had so many great times together. I rememeber one night we were at his old condo and we were messing around in his room and we found a wipe and he decided to hit me with it. So then we got a an idea we took all these covers and put them over us and we started beating the poop out of each other and his mom walked in the room and im under the covers and grant is standing over my with his foot on top of me looking around like he jus won the fight. Me and grant also had a passion for war games and me and him would play them for hours at a time and talk on the phone. I used to come over his house and we would help each other out, and we taught matthew hansman how to play our favorite game too and matt llyold. The game me and grant loved so much was Age of Mythology sometimes me him and matthew would all play together and would just have a great time. I had so many good times with grant that i never wanna forget. I know God had a reason for grant to pass away because the people that he only takes are the nicest guys in the whole world. Grant was one of the funniest guys i could never play hide-and-seek with him cuss he would always find me cuss i was laughing so hard cuss he was just saying stupid stuff. Grant and his mom are my heros because grant fought threw his cancer and didnt compliain and always jus wanted to have fun and smile, he never wanted to be treated different he just always wanted to do what we did. His mom was one of the sweetest niceest people i have ever met and i love her dearly. I love u grant and glenna u really made me a better person and i will never forget u. I love u grant pillbug1 and pillbug2............ your friend, Joey Riedel |
| Unfortunately I never had the chance to meet Grant in person. I had seen him several times during the school year....just as I passed him in the hallway. And even though I was just passing by him I always remember there being a smile on his face. Grant showed great courage just by smiling. But over the past week I have learned about his life and how great he really was. I learned that he was a wonderful person who could bring a smile to anyone's face and showed great courage through times of difficulty. I think Grant has inspired many lives and his great courage will never be forgotten. His courage will live on through the lives of everyone he has touched. I wish I would have gotten the chance to meet Grant and to get to know him better.Unfortunately I will never get to do that, but I do know that some day when I go to heaven Grant will be one of the angels there to greet me with a smile on his face. We love you Grant and will never forget you!! BBallPlayer75 |
| Grant, I didn't know you very well. I was a grade younger and saw you every day you could make it to school. I sometimes got to play soccer with you which was fun because you were always fun to play with. But from all the things I have heard about you, I can tell you're a real hero. I wish I could have gotten to know you better. I pray that you'll watch over all your family and friends. You will never be forgotten by me. Rest in peace, Brad Ostendorf |
| Grant-- I have so much respect for you. You were a tough boy and lived everyday to its fullest. Without knowing you and your story I would have never been able to be the person I am today. You make me so grateful. Even though we wern't good friends, i think that you have made a HUGE impact on my life. Words can't even express the nights i have gone to bed wondering what was going to happen the next day...but for you I'm sure that didn't make a difference. You always had a enormous smile on your face...even when you were having a not so good day..and thats what makes you Grant Janzsen...You made my day so much better when i got to be around you. When we went for our service day to Lakeside, it was one of the greatest times with you! You were a great kid! Throwing the pennys at the ducks hoping that they'd eat them..that was some funny stuff! And riding in that blue...thing..i dont even kno what it was...a suburban truck i guess...just the look on your face made me think that in the end..it would all be okay...like you had no worries..it was just a great time! At Arbys! She ordered food for their dinner that night...which wasnt for like another 6 hours...we laughed about that for weeks...you are such an inspiration to me and im glad that i got to meet you and spend time with you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I love you Grant.. I love and miss you, Caitlin Sowko |