Memorial
Alex David Angelo Grafft died Saturday, August 21, 2021, after complications from a sports injury.
Alex was born December 14, 1988, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Premature and tiny, he turned into the boy who lived. He was adopted by Rita and LaMar Grafft, from Iowa, in June of 1989 where he joined a sibling group of 7. He graduated from Washington High School in 2007 and wrestled for a short time at Loras College before continuing his education at Kirkwood. There, he started his cheerleading career which led straight to his passion of coaching. He graduated boot camp and joined the Iowa National Guard in the spring of 2013. He received a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Northern Iowa in 2016 where he also was a valued member of the cheerleading team. Throughout his life, Alex always held several jobs at a time like delivering papers, detasseling, roofing, construction, Two guys and a Truck and Subway. He was a cheerleading coach, plasma donor and corrections officer. He was a hard worker with an untouchable work ethic and was always willing to lend a hand. Alex was positive, funny, energetic, genuine and never afraid of being himself. He was a light, a beacon who inspired and befriended everyone on his path. He persevered and never let his dreams die. After a long road of interviews, Alex was looking forward to joining the Des Moines police department in September.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Daniel, his grandparents Melvin and Ruby Borcherding and Delbert and Virginia Grafft.
He is survived by his parents: Rita and LaMar and his siblings: Cara, Megan, Luke, Clay, KC, Nick, Lia, Taneeka, Tori, Marc, Carly, Kenzie, Jamie and Molly and numerous nieces and nephews who will always and forever hold him in their hearts.
Visitation for Alex will be held Wednesday night from 4:00-8:00 and again on Thursday morning from 9:30-10:30 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church located at 610 31st St. SE in Cedar Rapids, IA. His funeral will follow at the church at 11:00. Then Military graveside service at Cedar Memorial Cemetery followed by lunch and visiting back at the church. A memorial will take place in Des Moines at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the family for the Alex Grafft memorial fund. His family is looking at multiple ways to honor Alex’s memory. Checks can be made to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church or to his father, LaMar Grafft, and sent to 4104 East Lang St., North Carolina, 27828.