Paul Grace

Paul D. Grace, 46, of Salem passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.  Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the McCook Central Auditorium.  Guests are asked to use the east doors to the auditorium.  Visitation will be from 5:30 – 7:00 pm with a 7 pm prayer service on Sunday, February 5, 2023 also at the auditorium.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the McCook County Fairgrounds (PO Box 294, Salem, SD 57058).

Paul Grace was born October 20, 1976 in Sioux Falls, SD to Gerald and Carmen (Fines) Grace.  He grew up near Hartford and graduated from West Central High School.  Paul studied a year at South Dakota State University before he entered his life long career in the livestock show industry.  For the last 13 years he worked with his friends at Eichacker Simmentals as their herdsman.  On May 3, 2008 he married Lindsay Crosby and they were blessed with three children: twin girls, Sawyer and Hayden and son, Lincoln.

From an early age, one of Paul’s biggest passions was raising and showing livestock.  Dairy cattle, beef cattle, and most recently, meat goats.  Paul enjoyed playing baseball, softball and volleyball, as well as coaching the high school Junior Olympics volleyball teams over the years.  Paul had a highly competitive, yet calming spirit about him; both on and off the court, and in the showring; which made him a great mentor to all of the youth in those activities.  Paul served on the McCook County Fairboard and was instrumental in helping with the fairground improvement projects and fundraising events.  Paul’s single biggest accomplishment were his three kids, who he adored with all his heart.

Paul is survived by: his wife, Lindsay and children, Sawyer, Hayden and Lincoln all of Salem; his parents, Gerald and Carmen of Hartford; siblings, Stacy Grace of Hartford, Kelly (Dean) Dunkelberger of Chancelor, Tim (Clara) of Humboldt, Travis (Becca) of Salem and Samantha (Calvin) Kastner of Parker; his father and mother-in-law, David and Becky Crosby and brother-in-law, Jon (Kim) Crosby all of Warsaw, IN; his grandma, Beatrice Grace of Hartford; his nieces and nephews, Geoffrey, Vanessa and Elizabeth Dunkelberger, Kane, Weston, Xavier and Blaze Grace, Knox and Kaven Grace, Izabella and Addison Kastner and Abby and James Crosby; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Paul was preceded in death by his grandparents, Francis Grace and Tom and Joyce Fines.