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In Memory of Pete Grathwohl
It is with deep sadness we share that our fellow employee-owner and founding member of the Emery Sapp Board of Directors, Pete Grathwohl has died. Pete passed away peacefully on January 16, 2023 surrounded by his family after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Pete was not only a committed colleague, but a trusted mentor and devoted friend. Joining Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) in 1976, Pete has been an integral part of the Emery Sapp story for more than forty-six years. If you had the pleasure of working alongside Pete, you will remember him for his unwavering dedication to his craft. Day-in and day-out, he tapped into bottomless reservoirs of grit and determination to continue his steadfast pursuit of operational excellence. Pete has left an immeasurable mark on our industry and will forever be a part of the Emery Sapp legacy.
Pete leaves behind his loving wife Donna; children Whitney, Nick, Ryan, Mark and Andrew; and beloved grandchildren Malia, PJ, Braden, Brooke, Brenna, Brielle, Chase, Caeden, and Brinley. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Grathwohl family and all those grieving his loss.
Visitation and funeral arrangements are listed below.
We encourage you to read a few touching tributes to Pete that we’ve collected below, along with a special message from Pete’s son and employee-owner, Ryan Grathwohl.
Visitation for Pete Grathwohl
Day: Friday, January 20th
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: The Crossing Church
3615 Southland Drive, Columbia, MO
Service for Pete Grathwohl
Day: Friday, January 20th
Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
Location: The Crossing Church
3615 Southland Drive, Columbia, MO
Funeral Arrangements & Obituary
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri.
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Upload a photo or video, or write a condolence to Pete’s loved ones
Keith Bennett, CFO, Board of Directors:Emery Sapp lost part of our “soul” this week…Pete truly Bled Blue. He was the hardest working guy I knew and was always so supportive of things I wanted to try. He’s the best partner a guy could ever want.
Steve Eveland, Paving Operations Manager: Pete was not only a leader but a coach, a friend, and my brother. We will all miss him.
Don Abell, Senior Estimator: Pete would always hit a challenge head on. Even working through a tough project, he could still make work enjoyable. Pete genuinely wanted everyone to succeed. He would freely give his time to help you get there and always had a way making me feel appreciated. He was a great boss, mentor, friend, and the ultimate coach.
Jason Rode, Vice President: I always knew that Pete had my back. He’d always answer my call and listen. As a young man it meant a lot. Pete had a profound impact on my career at Emery Sapp and Sons. That’s something I will never forget and will always be thankful for. Some of you may or may not know, but Pete was the best d*mn Liars Poker player in the history of Emery Sapp. For those of you that know, this will bring a smile to your face: “Twenty-seven Two’s.” Pete, you will be dearly missed.
A Special Message from Pete’s Son and Employee-Owner Ryan Grathwohl:
Emery Sapp & Sons has meant the world to Pete Grathwohl. He devoted 46 years of his life to this company because he believed that great things could be accomplished with the men and women that he worked alongside.
I believe that I am not alone when I say that I have been inspired by my father’s work ethic and dedication to this company. It has been very evident in these last several weeks of his life that he has been loved and respected by many.
It brings joy amidst the sadness when I hear stories about how my father showed up on countless jobs to help contribute in any way that he could. These are some of the principles that make this company great.
My family and I are truly grateful for the love and support we have been receiving from the ESS family, and we appreciate your part in continuing to build upon the legacy that Pete Grathwohl helped to build.
