Steven Kurt Gratzer

Kurt was born in Missoula, Montana at St. Patrick Hospital on 10 May 1963, the son of George "Sonny" Gratzer and Janet Norman Lee. Kurt died 26 April 2014 at Community Medical Center when resuscitation efforts failed.
The military first induced Kurt's interest as a very young boy by riding in a jeep in Bamberg, Germany, where he lived with his parents for three years. He attended school in Missoula where he excelled in Little League baseball, Little Grizzly football, YMCA basketball, and he boxed for the Missoula Maverick's Boxing Club. As a boy, he played violin and loved playing with his fiddle-playing grandfather in Butte, MT. He attended Sentinel High School where he played freshman and senior football. He developed a love for high horse-powered cars, great paint jobs, and worked on and improved several vehicles. As a boy, he enjoyed hunting and target shooting with his father and brother, Mike. He excelled at both water and snow skiing. After graduating from high school, he attended Montana State University for one year where he developed a love for bodybuilding and competition before transferring to the University of Montana where he earned both a BA in Sociology and later a BS in Business Administration.
Kurt enlisted in US Army in 1995 and excelled in Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, followed by becoming Airborne qualified at Fort Benning, GA. After jump school, Kurt entered the Ranger Indoctrination Program where he became the Honors Graduate, an achievement he was very proud to earn. He served at Fort Lewis, WA, with Company C, 2d Battalion, 75th Rangers until medical problems shortened his career. He always desperately wanted to be a Ranger.
Kurt loved his family more than life. He was also passionate about music, especially playing his guitars and loudly adjusting his amplifiers. He loved to make his own music. He would play until the sun came up, no doubt contributing to his neighbors' forthcoming hearing impairments. Playing made his heart sing.
Making others laugh will be an attribute sorely missed by his family and friends. Kurt loved people deeply. As a devoted Christian, he loyally attended church services. His family often chuckled to themselves at Kurt's extended prayers when asked to say grace before a meal.
Kurt's mother, Janet Lee, and his niece Rachel Lynn Millhouse, preceded Kurt in death and both are waiting at the gate for him. He leaves behind his Grandmother, Lorraine Lee Runyan, Clovis, NM; his son Michael Quinn; his father George "Sonny" Gratzer of Missoula; his sister Dana Millhouse and her best friend Glenn Millhouse, along with their surviving children Sean Millhouse and his wife Whitney, Kyle, K.C., Mariah, and Ryan Millhouse all of Missoula; his brother Michael Gratzer and his love, Maria Snow, Delray Beach, FL; Mike's son Gage Gratzer (Palmer, Kalispell, MT); sister Rachel Ross and her sons Treyvon Spirlin and JD Strange, Helena, MT; and his faithful friend Vera McCurley, Missoula; favorite Aunt and Uncle Jenny and Mike La Sorte, Kalispell, MT; Aunts and Uncles Ruthe Fesperman, Los Angeles, CA; Vi and Rene Marquez, Azusa, CA; Jill Gratzer and Steve Miller, Winnetka, CA; Karen and John Doran, Butte, MT; Steve Gratzer, Simpsonville, South Carolina, and Karl Gratzer, Deer Lodge, MT. Kurt have numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins around the country.
A memorial service officiated by Keith Mobley will be at 10 a.m. at Garden City Funeral Home Chapel Friday, May 2nd, 2014 A reception will follow immediately at the funeral home.

Read Steven Gratzer's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.