Michael “Shorty” Granquist, age 51 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Thursday, May 17, 2018.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Laurel, Nebraska with the Rev. Dr. Dave York officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel, NE.
Pallbearers will be Tim Bloom, Mark Bruning, Tim Gubbels, Keith Lunz, Steve Rasmussen, Scott Rath, Justin Roberts, and Troy Young.
Michael Leroy Granquist was born on January 25, 1967 in Wayne, Nebraska to Rollie and Karen (Smith) Granquist. He grew up in the Laurel area and graduated from Laurel-Concord High School in 1985. Michael graduated from UNL with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Agriculture. Mike married Jean Lute on September 9, 1990 in Laurel. He began farming with his grandfather Cy Smith and continued farming until the present.
Mike was a member of the United Methodist Church in Laurel. He was a big Nebraska Husker fan. He enjoyed playing golf, men’s baseball, and basketball. He also enjoyed helping coach his children, Mallorie and Nate’s, sports when they were young.
Mike is survived by his wife, Jean of Laurel; three children Mallorie and husband Chad Koch of Hartington, Staff Sergeant Nate Granquist of Biloxi, Mississippi; and Cassie Granquist at home in Laurel; one grandson Crew Koch of Hartington and granddaughter on the way; mother and step-father Karen & Jim Thompson of Laurel; brother Tim and wife Teresa Granquist of Laurel; sister Tina Ballard of Broomfield, CO; in-lays Gary and Roberta Lute of Laurel; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Doug and Tanya Lute of Laurel; Nancy and Joe Olsen of Harrisburg, SD; Mark and Misti Lute of Laurel and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Rollie in 1991; maternal grandparents Cy & Lois Marie Smith; paternal grandparents Harry & Vernice Granquist.
