WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Valley High School is grieving the death of a cherished employee. Sam Kranovich, a more than 40-year student supervisor, passed away on Monday night. He was also an active community leader and volunteer firefighter. The announcement of his loss to the faculty this morning was “one of the most painful things I’ve ever had to do, and it’s a different building already,” said Valley High School Principal David Maxwell.
Sam Kranovich was well-known to everyone, according to Maxwell.
Kranovich graduated from Valley High School in 1973, but he almost never left. He had positions as a student supervisor, study hall monitor, parking lot monitor, audio tech director, and football ticket coordinator for more than forty years.
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“He frequently made jokes with the youngsters, and they enjoyed his sense of humor. He is missed, “Maxwell stated. Kevin Trevillyan, a municipal councilman for West Des Moines, was one of those children in the late 1970s.
“I remember walking through the hallways and just kind of taking your time and he was like, ‘you’d better hurry, you’re going to be late for class.’ He had that little thing with his voice, and I’d say ‘ok Sam.’ He was happy-go-lucky,” said Trevillyan.
Kranovich starred in this tribute film and was admitted into the Valley High School Hall of Honors last year. “I had their parents or grandparents when I first started, just like the kids I have now. Their forefathers began with me. That is about 24,000 children “Kranovich stated last year.
In addition, Kranovich served as a volunteer firefighter and civic volunteer for a number of West Des Moines causes. According to WDM fire marshal Mike Whitsell, “He never forgot a name or a face.” Whitsell laments the loss of a close buddy in his department.
“Sam didn’t do this for attention or to brag. He volunteered for a lot of hours. He’s going to be missed, “Whitsell stated. Maxwell claims to be coordinating the funeral plan with Kranovich’s relatives.
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