Kirk Grau

Sibley, IA: Kirk Grau, 60, of Sibley, Iowa, originally of Inwood, Iowa, passed away Monday December 23, 2013 at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls after a lengthy battle with esophageal cancer. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Porter Funeral Home, Inwood. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery, Inwood. Visitation with family present will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 at Porter Funeral Home, Inwood. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Kirk was born April 17, 1953 at Canton, South Dakota, son of Kenneth and Verlys (Jungersen) Grau. He grew up in Inwood, Iowa until 1964 when the family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where Kirk graduated from Lincoln High School. He then obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and History at the University of South Dakota (USD) and a Master's Degree in Public Administration at USD. Kirk worked in 7 different states at community and developmental agencies with the last 18 years at Sibley at the Osceola County Economic Development Commission. His latest achievement was an Industrial Park in Sibley which has been named after him and he was chairman of the Northwest Iowa Developers Association. Kirk was an avid coin, stamp, and antique collector and belonged to many of those organizations.

Surviving relatives include his brother, Michael (Lorie) Grau of Sioux Falls; special friend, Pamela Janssen of Crooks, South Dakota; brother-in-law, Charles Vetch of Tucson, Arizona; three nephews, Jay, Lee, and Dusty; and one niece, Jena.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Verlys; infant brother, Kim Grau; and sister, Pamela Veatch