Memorial Service for Jeremy

A Memorial service for Jeremy will be held this Saturday May 22, 2010 at 11am in Minden, Nebraska.

Jeremy John Griess

Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2010 at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

206 North Colorado Avenue, Minden, NE 68959-1623 (308) 832-1343‎

Pastor Donald Becker will officiate.

Flowers can be sent directly to the church.

Link to Church

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He is survived by his Mother, Wanda LaPage; Stepfather, Roger LaPage;

Father, Ted Griess; Stepmother, Rita Griess;

Brother, Tony Griess; Sister-in-law, Amy Cannella;

Sister, Cassandra Kanter; Brother-in-law, Troy Kanter;

Sister, Chandra Maraman; Brother-in-law, Paul Maraman;

Nephews, Baxter and Parker Kanter and August Griess;

Nieces, Vivian Griess, Sheridan and Lydia Maraman;

A host of relatives and many friends.

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Letter from Mike, The Man who found Jeremy

We felt this message from Mike to be of such great comfort that we wanted to share it with everyone.

Thank you very much Mike.

Jeremy’s Family

Dear Griess Family;

I am Mike Holler, the man who found the body of your beloved Jeremy. My heart not only goes out to you, but honestly breaks with yours. Your Jeremy was a beautiful man and oh, how I wish I could have known him in life! The pictures and the stories you have posted tell me of a man who was loved and talented and full of life. His passing is tragic and the world is the worse for it.

I spoke with Tony a little while ago and (with his blessing) gave an interview to Lindsay Watts of Channel 13 (who was very sensitive). If you get a chance to see it (10 PM Mountain Time), the camera will show the view from where Jeremy died. For what little comfort it may provide, it is breath-takingly beautiful, and if any of you would ever like to see it in person, please let me know. He carefully chose a place that was as magnificent and as wild as his spirit. He said goodbye to this earth looking at Pike’s Peak, and ascended into a heaven more splendid still.

My wife Cathy and I lost our oldest daughter 4 years ago at the age of 28. I tell you this only so that you will know that we are familiar with your overwhelming grief and sadness. No one can say the right thing or take the pain away. What sustained us were the prayers of the saints, the knowledge that God was near, and the hugs of everyone who came to us. May God be near you now and reveal His love in ways  you never knew before.

I often said that the only time I did not feel like I was falling was when someone who was standing held me tightly in their arms. I wish I could do that for you right now, but there will be many through your door. I encourage you to throw your arms around them and let them hold you and hug you long and hard. Cry as hard as you feel and let your tears run on their shirts. They want to do this for you, and you will find some comfort there.

We have wept sweet tears over your beloved son and brother. Tears, because his passing is so painful to you all. Sweet, because he was so beautiful and his life such a blessing. For now, all you will feel is the sadness of your loss, and the life cut short. In time I can safely promise you that the happy memories will become larger and more lovely, and the sorrow and sense of separation will lessen.

Until then, may God hold you near and provide you His peace that passes all of our understanding. Please feel free to call or write any time, and if there is any way that I may be of service, please ask.

Mike Holler

Family Update

With deep regret we post this information. Unfortunately, late last night Jeremy’s body and vehicle were discovered near Paradise Valley Ranch. At this time the family is working on his burial arrangements and will provide the details as they become available.

We would like to thank everyone from the bottom our hearts for all the love and support.

Thank you
-Griess Family

The Flume.com: Search for Missing Man Tied to Park County

Westminster man missing since April 11

By Christine Ford

The only lead to a Westminster, Colo., man’s disappearance may lie in the last contact with his Blackberry device, recorded at Badger Mountain just east of Wilkerson Pass in southeastern Park County.

Westminster resident Jeremy J. Griess, 39, was last seen around noon on April 11.

According to a Web site set up to assist in his search, a check of his cell phone by Commnet revealed that it registered a signal in the Badger Mountain area on April 11 and April 14, when contact with the device was lost.

Griess is a mountain biker, fisherman and hiker who is familiar with the Eleven Mile Reservoir and Canyon area, said Ted Griess, his father, speaking by phone from Nebraska. The senior Griess said his son had been staying with a college friend in Westminster until his divorce was final and his Littleton townhome became available again.

Original reports placed the missing man in the Woodland Park cell phone tower vicinity, until further technical analysis revealed the Badger Mountain signal.

Flyers with his picture went up from Woodland Park to Hartsel. Friends and family launched a Web site, http://www.jeremygriess.com, and Facebook page to assist in the search. According to the site, members of local mountain biking clubs were the first to go out looking for Griess, although initial efforts were hampered by heavy spring snow.

The Rampart Range Road and Phantom Canyon Road in Teller County were searched. The Teller County Sheriff’s Office led an extensive volunteer effort throughout the county and adjacent areas on April 24. With the assistance of the Air Force Rescue Co-ordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, which mapped and gridded the search area, volunteers drove local roads and checked trailheads, including those on Park County Road 77.

A helicopter from Colorado Vertical Tours in Colorado Springs also participated, flying over the Badger Mountain area for two hours with no results. The search has encompassed the main roads around both Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir.

The search is focusing on locating Griess’s vehicle, a black 1999 two-door Honda Accord with a bike rack on the roof, Colorado license plate number 940 JSE. It is not believed the two-wheel-drive vehicle would be off the main roads, especially considering the muddy conditions prevalent at that time. The cell phone tower quadrant he last registered in is northwest of Lake George, east of Hartsel, and north of Eleven Mile State Park. This area is criss-crossed with an extensive network of forest service roads and has little residential usage beyond the U.S. 24 corridor.

Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said Eleven Mile State Park officers, Park County sheriffs’ deputies and Park County Search and Rescue participated in actively looking for the vehicle, checking back roads around Badger Mountain and Eleven Mile.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family,” said Gore. “We hope they find him alive and well.”

But he admitted that four weeks without any financial activity on Griess’s bank accounts was “not a good sign”.

Griess, a Minden, Neb., native, is about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a small scar above his lip.

Anyone with specific information regarding this case is asked to contact the Westminster, Colo., Police Department at 303-658-4360.

Griess’s mother, Wanda LaPage, has set up a contact e-mail of findjgriess@gmail.com. His family is continuing to follow up on all leads and ask that “everyone continues spreading the word about Jeremy.” The Web site has a downloadable flyer for Park County residents who wish to post it.

Griess is believed to be dressed in jeans, T-shirt and boots and not prepared for dealing with the elements at this altitude.

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” said his father, when describing law enforcement policies regarding missing persons. “When an adult goes missing, then the police assume they have the right to do that. But that’s just not the case with my son. He was not dressed for the weather. I believe his life was in danger.”

Griess was referring to an article on the Web site taken from a Nebraska TV story in which Westminster Police Department Investigator Cheri Spottke was quoted as saying: “(Griess) could have decided he was just fed up with life and needed a break and wanted to travel and live in Timbuktu, and that’s not a crime.”

The senior Griess, who will travel from Nebraska to Colorado next week to handle his son’s affairs, said: “I don’t have any idea what could have happened to Jeremy. We sit and wait and a thousand scenarios play out in my mind. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Link to Article

Nebraska.TV: Car Wash for Jeremy Griess

Minden youth chip in to help further the search for a missing Minden native.

Kids from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church youth group and C.L. Jones Middle School offered a car wash Saturday.

It’s a fundraiser to help find Jeremy Griess who went missing in Colorado one month ago.
This contribution lets the kids feel good about  helping others, and gives the family an extra glimmer of hope.

“I think they would feel good because for one thing they have to pay for all these expenses for what they’re just to find him, so i think it’s helping them a lot,” said organizers Zack and Jessica Rehtus.

“It’s just, it’s so heartwarming to see these people still helping us look for our Jeremy, seeing all these young people reminds me of my son when he was their age, it’s just so warm and nice to know that people care,” said Jeremy’s father Ted Griess.
Saturday’s car wash brought in $1,500.

Click Image to Launch Video

Thank you all so very much!

-Griess Family

Link to Article

Please Help Us Notify National Media About Jeremy’s Story

Would you please copy the statement shown in blue below and email to each member of this National Media list. If you would like to send it to other media sources, please feel free to do so.  Please help us tell Jeremy’s story.

Please use this subject for the email:

Please Help Us Find a Mother’s Missing Son

On April 11, 2010, Jeremy J. Griess, our beloved, Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin and Friend went missing without a trace. This past Sunday May 9, 2010 , was Mother’s Day, but also marked exactly one month since Jeremy’s disappearance.

After  extensive and exhaustive searches by hundreds of volunteers, countless phone calls and the distribution of thousands of flyers, we have unfortunately been unable to locate him or his vehicle.

His mother and entire family are utterly heartbroken. Because Jeremy has committed no crime and is thirty-nine years of age, the authorities’ investigation has been limited.   Every Mother knows that no matter their age, they will always be remembered as their little child.

Please help us find Jeremy by continuing  to tell his story. We ask that everyone please remember, every missing person is someone’s child.

The following website with details has been created: http://www.jeremygriess.com

Family members are available for an interview to discuss Jeremy’s case.  Please contact; findjgriess@gmail.com

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A Message from Jeremy’s Mother:

Mother’s Day is fast approaching.  A day set aside each year for celebration of Mother/Child relationships all around the world.  For my children, it has always been a day to lovingly honor me with love and respect.  For me, it has always been a day to celebrate my children with love and pride.  As all of you know, a Mother/Child relationship goes well beyond what mere words can describe…it is Love at its best…it is a deeply emotional experience, a spiritual attachment at the very deepest level.

This year, Mother’s Day will be a little different for me than in years past.  Although I will be ever so thankful for my other three children and ever so grateful to celebrate the specialness of Mother’s Day with them, a piece of me aches for my missing son, Jeremy.  We will all feel the void left behind in his absence…a void that was always filled with his presence and all the love, laughter, joy and comfort he added to all occasions.

This Mother’s Day marks a first for me…my first Mother’s Day without my Jeremy.  I know my other 3 children will create a sense of specialness for me as they always have.  But, we will be short one family member, our Jeremy, who always added his special touch to this and every day.

I have but one Mother’s Day wish this year and I need your help to make that wish come true.  I need help to get Jeremy’s story out across our country.  The best way I know how to do this is to make an attempt to snag the attention of the National Media and let them tell our story.   Maybe, just maybe, this will be the key in reuniting us with our Jeremy and bring a sense of wholeness back to our aching hearts.

Happy Mother’s Day to All.  Please give your children an extra hug this Mother’s Day just for me and my Jeremy.  That might just be the spiritual punch we need.

Thanking all of you in advance from deep within my soul…Remaining forever grateful to all of you and all your help!!!

Sincerely,

Wanda LaPage

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Update From The Family

Last night the family met to discuss our current options and future plans to find Jeremy. Presently we are continuing to follow up on all leads. Though this process has been terribly stressful and emotionally draining, we remain hopeful for information that may help us find Jeremy. Unfortunately, to date we have no leads which have brought us any closer to locating Jeremy or his vehicle. Therefore, we ask that everyone continue spreading the word about Jeremy. The more people we can reach and come in contact with, the greater the likelihood someone will find Jeremy or his vehicle. Additionally, we are exploring the option of National Media exposure and welcome any suggestions that may help us facilitate this process. Please contact us at: findjgriess@gmail.com.

We are eternally grateful for everyone’s continued support. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all!