Gregg Scharnau
January 30, 1967 ~ December 20, 2016
* SPECIAL NOTE: The tribute wall/online guestbook for Gregg is private. All entries are forwarded directly to the family. If you posted a comment please be assured they have been forwarded. The family thanks you for sharing the memories and stories about Gregg.
Gregg Justin Scharnau, age 49, was born January 30, 1967, and passed to heaven on Tuesday, December 20, 2016. A resident of Marion, Iowa, Gregg grew up in Dubuque and had also lived in Illinois and Arizona. He was the youngest child of Ralph and Ruth Scharnau, and brother to Andrea and Keith.
As a football player at Dubuque Senior and University of Dubuque, he created many friendships and memories. His career in radio broadcasting began during college at KATF/KDAT, and he later worked at WZOE, KCRG, KDAT, and KRNA. Gregg valued his radio colleagues and mentors.
In 2001, he married Susan Thomas and welcomed Dylan Ivan, Lia Xiao, Henry Kai, and Josephine Lily. Gregg was a loving father and devoted family man. His children carry with them his love, determination, humor, and kindness.
Gregg is survived by his wife; children; parents; sister; brother; nephews, Adam and Eliot; in-laws, Jim and Bonnie Thomas; brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Tina Thomas and nephews, Harrison and Tucker and niece, Lucy; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Gregg was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Alison Heal and grandparents, Charlie and Marie Cotter & Walter and Ruth Scharnau. Gregg is buried at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
Family and friends are invited to the celebration of his life which will occur on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, at Theatre Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow. His family sincerely thanks his entire medical team for their innovation and compassion. They are also grateful for the unceasing love and steady resolve of their thoughtful family and friends. In lieu of flowers or gifts, a memorial fund has been established in his children's names ("Dylan, Lia, Henry, and Josephine Scharnau's Education Fund") at Hills Bank in Marion, Iowa.
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I always enjoyed listening to The Shark,especially when he reminisced on growing up in Dubuque county since I also am from that area. God bless your family.
Lisa-Cedar Rapids
I first got to know Gregg back in 4th grade it was at ymca basketball. Ralph was the coach and it didn’t take long for us to hit it off. We were reunited in junior high at Washington and played basketball and football together and as opponents
We went to different high schools he at Senoir and me at Hempstead and we always seemed to cross paths during the games. After high school when Gregg moved back to Dubuque and was recovering from his first bout with cancer Gregg played a softball game with our Wednesday night team. He wasn’t at full speed and we .knew it . He was so happy to be playing again after all he had been through it turned out to be quite an ending to the game. Gregg came to bat in the bottom of the last inning bases loaded our team down by one. He ended up getting the game winning hit and we all ran out to celebrate with him. To this day after playing sports for the last 40 plus years I can’t remember a better ending to a game and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy!!
My thoughts are with you all.
Scott T. Faulkner Dubuque
Susan just a note to say your family has been in my thoughts and prayers Your family is special and will continue to be even though a very important member is missing physically. Gregs memories will remain forever through the five of you. Please accept the support of those around you as he will be with you through them.Take care. I know you only through Gina and Aunt Becky but truly respect and pray for your family. One small step at a time 👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣. Jacque Winchip
I don’t know what caused me to look up Gregg online this evening. I can’t remember the last time we spoke with each other, but it was probably some time back in high school in the early 1980s. My mother was born and raised in Dubuque and returned there for my high school years. We lived in a rented apartment on Delhi Street, where a medical center now stands. I got to know Gregg through a mutual friend, Sean Leuck. Gregg, Sean, and I would play endless hours of APBA baseball, basketball at the Lincoln junior high playground, and whiffle ball on the site where a water tower used to stand not far from my home. Gregg was fun loving. Something I will never forget were the times playing APBA with Gregg and Sean when a special promotion for Pickle Barrel Subs would come onto the radio. They offered a free sub to the next person who went to any Pickle Barrel location and claimed it. The moment the ad began, the three of us would run hell bent down the street to the Pickle Barrel two blocks away. I can no longer recall how many free subs we ended up getting, but I do recall the endless laughs we had carrying them home. I’m sorry we lost touch so many years ago and that I did not see you while you were sick. You are missed my friend. From Tim Stoeckel, now in Niigata Japan.