Grant J Strunk

If you hand Grant Strunk an old book – something with some weight to it, maybe some crumbling pages – he will open it up and hold it close to his face. It’s not because he can’t see the words, but because he wants to smell the ink.

For, you see, it’s the printer’s ink that Grant loves. 

It’s that smell that evokes his earliest memories, memories of his dad coming home after work at the newspaper.

It’s the black oiliness that reminds him of wiping drops of ink off the pressroom floor before going to school every morning.

It’s printer’s ink that runs through Grant’s veins, a family legacy passed on by his grandfather, Harry D. Strunk, founder in 1911 of the Red Willow Gazette (later to become the McCook Daily Gazette). Following Harry’s death in 1960, his son, Allen D. Strunk, took over the reins as publisher. Grant was just 1 ½ years old.

Grant grew up at the Gazette. He remembered recently, “There wasn’t a job at the paper that I hadn’t done, or couldn’t do,” from delivering papers as a kid to working as co-publisher with his brother, Harry, also known as “Rocky.”

After graduating from McCook High School in 1977, Grant earned a degree in graphic arts at North Dakota College of Science in Wahpeton, N. Dakota. He worked for a time at the Alliance, Nebraska, Times-Herald before returning to McCook.

Back at the Gazette, Grant took pictures, developed film and printed pictures for the newsroom, ran the press and served as mechanical superintendent and mechanic. He filled in from time to time as sports editor.

Grant was an outstanding photographer, learning the basics as a young kid using a Kodak “point-and-shoot” box camera. He “graduated” to his favorites, Leica and Nikon cameras. He published several books of his best photographs.

Grant and Rocky were third-generation publishers of the Gazette, which passed from family ownership in 1986. Rocky died on May 2, 2014, at the age of 56. Now, Grant’s death on Monday, April 15, 2024, marks the end of an era … a family legacy of service to readers throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, and a heritage of paper and ink … definitely ink.

Grant John Strunk was born on Jan. 19, 1959, and died Monday, April 15, 2024, at the age of 65. He is the son of Norma Rose (Bobinmeyer) and Allen D. Strunk, and the grandson of Harry D. Strunk, conservationist and founder of the McCook Daily Gazette. 

At MHS, Grant excelled in football, basketball, track and swimming. 

Grant was the originator of the Norris Avenue and East H monument honoring his grandfather’s achievements in conservation and journalism.

Grant supported many community projects, including the construction of the wheelchair platform at Weiland Football Field, and the funding of scholarships at McCook Community College.

Grant contributed generously to the McCook Humane Society, Santa Claus Lane (a pet project of his mother), Thursday Night Supper, Share the Heat, the Backpack for Students Program and the McCook Toy Box. He purchased new coats for children – at least 100 a year for 10 years – for the community Coat Closet project.  Over the past several years Grant anonymously purchased 92 monuments for unmarked infant and veteran graves in McCook and surrounding cemeteries.  

Grant enjoyed daily coffee with Bob, playing golf, spending time at the lake and traveling across the country in search of one of his many incredible photos.  

Grant was preceded in death by his mother, Norma; his brother, Harry “Rocky”; his former wife, Jan Allen Strunk; his stepbrother, Steve Allmond and his lovable companion Buddy.

He is survived by his father, Allen D. Strunk, and stepmother, Linda, of Las Vegas, Nev.; his daughters, Deanna Martin, and husband, Sheldon, of Danbury, NE and Kristen Rose Mohr, of Sioux City, IA; his sister, Julie Strunk of North Palm Beach, FL; his stepbrother, Greg Allmond of Wake Forest, NC; three grandsons, Devon Andrew Strunk and wife, Elizabeth, Austin Allen Kreutzer, and Carter Grant Martin; one great-grandson, Archer John Strunk; and his nieces and nephews; and special friend, Connie Jo Discoe, of McCook.

A final farewell book signing with family present to greet friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home, McCook. 

Memorial Services will be held Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook with Mike Roth, officiating.  

Private family inurnment will be held at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery, McCook.

Memorial contributions are suggested in lieu of flowers to the McCook Humane Society, P.O. Box 13 McCook, NE 69001, Community Home Health and Hospice, 1301 East H St. McCook, NE 69001 or Valley Hope, 709 West Holme St. Norton, KS 67654.