SMITHVILLE, Mo. - Dr. William "Guy" Gronniger, 61, Smithville, passed away September 18, 2009, among family and friends, all whom he considered family, after a courageous 26 month battle with brain cancer.
A graduate of De La Salle High School (1966) and UMKC Dental School (1978), Guy established and operated numerous successful dental practices during his career in dentistry. Guy also served as an instructor at the dental school for several years.
At an early age, Guy was introduced to the sport of weightlifting/body building, which later became a passion which would define him physically, mentally and spiritually. Guy qualified for the 1968 Olympics and still held several AAU weightlifting records which to date have not been broken. Guy and other fellow body builders were featured in the September 1975 issue of the KC Star magazine.
Guy served in the United States Marines from 1969 to 1975 - Semper Fi.
Later in life, Guy's tender giving heart could be witnessed by anyone who stopped by his house and saw the ever-changing number of handicapped dogs he would welcome into his home.
In addition, Guy could be found most Sundays at Harmer's Restaurant in Edgerton, Mo., with his best friend, Dr. Butterworth, whom he credited for believing in him and making dental school a reality along with so many others.
A child at heart, Guy loved the circus and several times a year could be found backstage during a performance or in the ring as part of an act with the performers who he had met and they themselves became infected with his outgoing and zany personality and called themselves his friends.
Motorcycles were another passion of Guys. To be sure he always had someone to ride with, he owned several bikes; so, no one ever had the excuse they couldn't ride because they didn't own one. One of Guys' greatest thrills was that he got to ride 1,800 miles of Alaska wilderness weeks before he was stricken ill.
Guy is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Ann (1968); his brother, Jeff (1995); his father, William "Red" (1999); and his step-mother, Patricia (2008).
Guy is survived by his aunt and uncle, Wayne & Donna Danforth of Lee's Summit, Mo.; brother, Dan of Kansas City; his sister-in-law, Connie Gronniger of Kansas City; and six nieces and nephews, Michael Gronniger, Phillip Gronniger, Collette Stevens, Gabe Gronniger, Josh Gronniger and Noah Gronniger, all of Kansas City; his cousin, Mitch Danforth of Lee's Summit; and seven dogs: Banjo, Bosco, George, Morgan, Mugs, Newby and Tinker; as well as his many friends who supported him during his battle with cancer.
Guy and the family wish to extend a special thanks to all of the medical professionals who cared for him during this difficult time. Finally, a special thank you to his guardian angel, Judy Klint, who arrived as a caregiver and leaves as a member of the family and his 3rd mother on this Earth, after the tenderness and love she showed towards him during good and difficult times. She will hold a special place in our hearts forever.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, McGilley Memorial Chapel, located at 3325 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 2, 10 a.m., St. Benedicts Catholic Church, Bendina, Kan. Guy's remains will be laid to rest near his brother and father at St. Benedicts Cemetery, Bendina, Kan.
If you're a friend of Guy and you own a motorcycle, Guy would be pleased and honored if you chose to ride your motorcycle to the wake and/or funeral. Ride safe and go with God!
Guy always believed flowers were for the living, so give flowers to someone you love. But if you must, please use Keefer Flowers: 816-436-7877.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society.
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cyndipfeifer says...
Guy is my love and with me always.
Cyndi (aka Mrs. Calabash)
September 21, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
peggynichols says...
Guy and I met several years ago, when he was a dental instructor at the
KC Dental College. I was in school at KCAI. I went to the dental college to have a couple of my wisdom teeth pulled. He made me laugh. I was nervous about it. He had a wonderful way with his patients.
We became great friends. He became part of my family.
He was a unique. I loved his smile. He was a passionate, wise, a bit stubborn
and unpredictable man. He taught me how to train with weights. Sometimes, I felt he was training me like a marine. ha! He was!
He was disciplined. I loved that characteristic about him.
He has meant so much to me over the years. I never thought he would be taken away so young. I could see him, walking his property, taking care of his dogs and riding his motorcycle into his 90's. Wow....
May his soul be part of the Universe, roaming free...
God bless you Guy! You were truly loved by me.
September 21, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
khamilton says...
Guy and I were classmates at the UMKC School of Dentistry and I must say he was one of the bright spots for me during the 4 years there. Our lockers were close together and once he heard my Southern accent, he was on me big time about such words as "turrable", as in "that test was turrable". Having the USMCR in common, we did strike up a unique friendship that still lasts today and will be renewed in Heaven. The best word for Guy is "unique". He is one of a kind. He still holds the record for the longest rubber base denture impression at UMKC that did not kill a patient. (Somewhere there are pictures to substantiate it!) He was the best practicing dentist with 9.75 fingers after losing part of a digit breaking up a dog fight among his "family". Guy was the only one in our class to dress up like Santa before the Christmas Holidays, and the only former beer truck driver in our dental school class. Guy was so funny, witty, impulsive, and such a good friend. We would call each other on our birthdays, no matter what the circumstances, and fill each other in on the year's events. We established Elephant Catering Service, an imaginary service that never forgot birthdays. We were the only two users of the service. My ribs were always sore the day after my birthday, because Guy could make me laugh like no other person. He had the ability to tell anything and make it hilarious!
My wife, Ann, and I were blessed to be able to visit with him in Feb for a day. I was only a couple of weeks out of knee replacement surgery, but that did not stop Guy from telling me I had to help him to the "facilities". We looked like two drunks as I hobbled on one leg to help him into his wheel chair and out of his wheel chair onto the "facilities", back into the wheel chair and back into bed. We both got so tickled we could hardly breath when we finally got him back into bed. Such was life with Guy! You never knew what he was going to do next.
However, the best phone call I ever received and the best memory of Guy was in the 80's when he called me one night in tears. He told me he had confirmed his salvation with Jesus Christ and thanked me for being a supporting friend to him through all his trials in life. That is why I am writing this in the present tense, because Guy still is! He he is no longer suffering on this earth, and he is more alive than ever with Jesus. No doubt, Heaven knows Guy is there! He is probably trying to organize something or look for stray animals, etc. The good news is that Jesus has a job for Guy in Heaven that fits him and he is loving it! I will miss him until I see him again.
Thanks to Danny and the family for keeping me updated on Guy's condition. He loves you and his family so much. He often told me how proud he was of all of you. Semper Fi
September 22, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
danfinn says...
Guy is my friend. I met him back when I was a young father and he and his partner Bo had their first office. I had some work done at the dental school and a temporary crown had come off and the office was by my house. I walked in and out came this person dressed in plaid pants and a plaid shirt that didnt even come close to matching and said "Can I help you"? I remember thinking this guy can't dress humself and he is gonna work on my teeth.
He did work on my teeth and we became friends immediately. We have laughed, we have cried, we have prayed and we rode together. He would come to the house and play with the kids and he watched them grow to adults and they loved Dr. Guy too!
His body has died, but his spirit and soul lives and is with us. I will not mourn his death but I will celebrate his life. Yes he touched many lives and was very generous but he also lived his life to the fullest every minute. Guy Gronniger knew how to live, we should do the same.
September 26, 2009 at 12:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )