Grant Emerson Ward

Grant Emerson Ward, 62, passed away December 18, 2019. He was born in Mount Ayr, Iowa, October 13, 1957, the son of Dale and Sandra (Dymond) Ward. Grant was a 1975 graduate of Truman High School in Independence, MO. After serving briefly in the United States Marines Corps, he attended Graceland and Northwest Missouri State University. He held numerous IT manager and director positions with various companies such as B/E Aerospace, Cisco Systems and Sumtotal Systems earning him recognition as Cisco’s IT Manager of the Year in 2012. At home, Grant enjoyed working with model trains and personal computers. In the latter phases of his life, he was aided in his “pursuit of happiness” by his good friends Erma Martin of Gahanna, Mike Mahaffey of Columbus and Kat Gencur of Galloway who he considered part of his extended family. Grant was preceded in death by his father, Dale F. Ward, sister Wendy (Ward) Eaton, his first wife of 20 years, Melissa (Bradshaw) Ward and his mother-in-law Jeanne E. Cate. Grant is survived by his wife, Patricia (Cate) Ward of 16 years, his stepson, Lucas J. Bagetis, both of Delaware, OH, mother Sandra J. Cline of Independence, MO, brother, Kyle F. Ward (wife, Elisabeth) of Geneva, Switzerland, 3 nieces, one nephew and two great nieces. Grant wanted memorial donations to go to the American Kidney Fund, c/o In the memory of Grant E. Ward, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville MD 20852. A private service will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Crouse-Kauber-Fraley Funeral Home in Johnstown, OH is honored to be serving the family.