In Vincennes, Indiana, on August 11, 1969, the annual Perseid Meteor Shower sent 150 blazing lights a minute flashing across the night sky to escort Kurtis Austin Grabner into our world.   This child of the universe was for all his life innately drawn to the sky and the seas.

No matter what the art assignment at Cove Elementary, Kurt drew one thing, day after day—a sailboat floating across calm, blue-green water under a clear blue sky and brilliant sun. This was the world he wanted.  During the middle school summers, Kurt participated in church building Mission Trips with First United Methodist Church. He traveled to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. The poverty and hopelessness of coastal northern Brazil, its stark social and economic inequities, its racism, this was not the world he wanted for any human being. The experience impacted Kurt's sense of social justice for his lifetime.  Kurt attended Landmark School in Prides Crossing, MA for high school and was selected for their international sailing program his Senior Year. Navigating ancient port cities along the Mediterranean on the 137-foot gaff-rigged schooner, Te Vaga, he discovered his favorite novel, Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."  He laughingly acknowledged the struggles of the story's main character, Santiago, were more reflective of his life than the placid seas of his elementary sailboats.

After attending Landmark College in Putney, Vermont, Kurt enrolled at Marshall University, in Huntington, West Virginia. At Marshall University, along the wide Ohio River and among the rolling hills of West Virginia, Kurt found the love of his life, his sun, his moon, his stars-Lucie Catherine Ferguson (Katey).  Kurt and Katey met at Gumby's Night Club, (yes, Gumby's) near campus. After only nine days of even knowing each other's names, Kurt said to Katey, "I think I am falling in love with you."  He was.  Later that evening Kurt was standing on the street corners, one arm around Katey, the other pointing down at her shouting to passing cars and pedestrians, "Hey! I love this girl! Hey, you heard me, I love this girl!"  Of course, Kurt soon found that dating a Circuit Court judge's daughter in West Virginia meant many, many watchful eyes reporting to dad day and night.  But, no matter, they are together from day nine to forever.

For their third wedding anniversary, Kurt gave Katey a paperweight of clear glass molded around three bright flowers. He must have known their life was about to blossom. Soon came beautiful, generous, insightful, compassionate Gretyl and then funny, quick-witted, caring, handsome Isaac. Both were angelic babies, (or maybe it was the amazing swaddling method of Katey's mother, Sharon, a neonatal nurse.)   No parents could be prouder.  From traveling to Gretyl and Isaac's gymnastics tournaments across the southeast to just traveling to Shell Island, Gretyl and Isaac are the ballast, the sunny joy and the 5-Star delights of the family.

One of Kurt's greatest pleasures was the slow and simple daily walk with Gretyl and Isaac to Holy Nativity Episcopal School, a loving, nurturing greenhouse of faith, compassion, and learning wrapped in a teaching and parent support system like no other. Kurt was so fulfilled and gratified! He delighted in Gretyl's recognition as a writer and public speaker, in Isaac's recognition for the Duke Talent Identification Program, and seeing Gretyl and Isaac's character and personality evolve as they sang, danced, and acted in the HNES plays and performances.   He loved the school campouts, the Fall Festival, the Father-Daughter Dance, the 5k Run, the Blessing of the Pets, and of course, the fishing tournament.

When Kurt's contractor schedule with Home Depot would allow, Kurt remained for Wednesday Morning Chapel Service. His heart was lifted by Father Steve's Scottish benediction:

"My friends, life is short and we haven't much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So be quick to love and make haste to be kind, and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you and remain upon you always."

Kurt lived this message. He so wanted to gladden the hearts of everyone he met—everywhere he went.  He loved playing pool and laughing for hours with siblings, friends, dear, dear aunts and uncles, and his stepdad, "Big Carroll." He loved laughing and bowling at Bowlarama with Gretyl and Isaac and his army of nieces and nephews. He loved Monday night family dinners out with Gretyl, Isaac and their cousins. He craved the happiness and joy of others, especially family and friends.   He loved muscular debates on politics and civic issues always matched with good humor.

Kurt was handsome, charismatic, and a reluctant, but natural born leader. He was soon to be the Commodore of the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club.  Kurt strove to cultivate a sense of family at the Yacht Club, as well as an inclusive space where everyone felt welcomed.  He loved organizing the Holy Nativity Fishing Tournament, pulling together Sunday afternoon volleyball games, happily losing all self-respect at Friday night karaoke, and having movie nights for kids on the Yacht Club lawn.  Kurt loved his dad, Fred, and his step-mother, Nancy coming all the way from Indiana to compete in the Holy Nativity fishing tournament.  He loved the family gathering meals on the Yacht Club deck.

This huge, diverse, family- stars of Kurt's heaven!  Kurt was so proud of his children, and proud of his parents.  While humble and reluctant to acknowledge his strengths, Kurt loved to brag and praise each and every brother and sister, each and every sister-in-law and brother-in-law, each and every aunt and uncle, and for certain, each and every niece and nephew. But all combined pales in the praise for his adored wife. He was so proud of Katey and especially proud that she earned her college degree, passed the state contractor's exam, and obtained her Florida teaching license.

While Kurt lived the Scottish benediction, his life also validates the message-"Life is short and we haven't much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us."

Friday, August 4 ^th 2017, Kurtis Austin Grabner returned to God in heaven.  The family invites all in this wonderful community of friends to join us for the celebration of Kurt's life.  Funeral services will be held on Kurt's birthday, Friday, August 11, 2017 at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at Wilson Funeral Home Thursday night from 5-8 pm and at the church on Friday from 1-2 pm prior to the service. Following the funeral service, everyone is welcome to share food and memories at the McCauley home, 301 North Cove Boulevard. The celebration will continue that night at the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club. Signing of the "We Love Kurt" banner and Open Mic Karaoke will begin at 8:30 pm.

This Celebration of Life will conclude against the backdrop of the full moon on the bay as the Perseid Meteor Shower spectacularly and suitably ushers to heaven the memories, the love, and the joy and happiness the life of Kurtis Austin Grabner brought to all of us.

The family would also ask that each flashing light and each twinkling star in the sky be seen as a thank you, an unrepayable debt for the hard, hard work of helping our family survive this unthinkable loss.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund for Kurt Grabner, www.gofundme.com.