John Jay Graening
Loading. . .
Obituary
John Jay Graening
John “Jay” Graening, 79, was born on October 21, 1941, in Elgin, Illinois to Orval M. and Marie Egoroff Graening. He passed peacefully on December 8, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joyce Crossfield Graening, who has been his caregiver for the last several years.
Jay received his B.A. Degree from Knox College in 1963, where he also lettered in football, basketball, and baseball, his M.A. Degree from Rutgers in 1967, and his PhD. in mathematics education from The Ohio State University in 1971. Jay accepted a professor's position in Mathematics Education at the University of Arkansas in 1971. He continued to teach there for 34 years, until he retired as professor emeritus in 2004. His favorite thing as a teacher was to teach teachers how to teach math. He did this all over Arkansas, the United States, and in several foreign countries, including Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Bolivia under the University of Arkansas umbrella. Jay loved his undergraduate and graduate students. He wanted everyone to love math and directed several doctoral dissertations.
Jay was instrumental in implementing the MAT program in Secondary Education/Math at the University of Arkansas. In addition to numerous journal articles and scholarly presentations, Jay was the co-author of a widely used public school K - 8 mathematics textbook series. He also authored or co-authored high school textbooks in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry, and a college Finite Math textbook.
Jay was an avid tennis player and enjoyed attending all Razorback basketball and tennis matches. He also enjoyed collecting antique irons, trivets, and tobacco cutters.
Besides his wife, Jay is survived by sons, Guy (Jen) Graening and Gary (Tommi) Graening of Folsom, California, 2 grandchildren, Zachary and Rowan Graening, Rancho Cordova, California, and 2 sisters, Vicky (Bill) Harbeck of Decatur, Illinois and Linda (Robert) Reilly of Marblehead, Massachusetts. He is also survived by his rescue dogs, Sampson, Niki, and Scruffy. He was predeceased by his parents.
In accordance with Jay’s wishes, his brain has been donated to help in Alzheimer’s research.
There will be no services. Cremation is by Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove
His family would like to thank Washington Regional Hospice for the help and wonderful care that they have provided the past 6 months and to Siloam Springs Nursing Center for his care in his final days.
Memorials are suggested to Washington Regional Hospice in Fayetteville, Arkansas or to the animal shelter of your choice.
John “Jay” Graening, 79, was born on October 21, 1941, in Elgin, Illinois to Orval M. and Marie Egoroff Graening. He passed peacefully on December 8, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joyce Crossfield Graening, who has been his caregiver for the last several years.
Jay received his B.A. Degree from Knox College in 1963, where he also lettered in football, basketball, and baseball, his M.A. Degree from Rutgers in 1967, and his PhD. in mathematics education from The Ohio State University in 1971. Jay accepted a professor's position in Mathematics Education at the University of Arkansas in 1971. He continued to teach there for 34 years, until he retired as professor emeritus in 2004. His favorite thing as a teacher was to teach teachers how to teach math. He did this all over Arkansas, the United States, and in several foreign countries, including Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Bolivia under the University of Arkansas umbrella. Jay loved his undergraduate and graduate students. He wanted everyone to love math and directed several doctoral dissertations.
Jay was instrumental in implementing the MAT program in Secondary Education/Math at the University of Arkansas. In addition to numerous journal articles and scholarly presentations, Jay was the co-author of a widely used public school K - 8 mathematics textbook series. He also authored or co-authored high school textbooks in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry, and a college Finite Math textbook.
Jay was an avid tennis player and enjoyed attending all Razorback basketball and tennis matches. He also enjoyed collecting antique irons, trivets, and tobacco cutters.
Besides his wife, Jay is survived by sons, Guy (Jen) Graening and Gary (Tommi) Graening of Folsom, California, 2 grandchildren, Zachary and Rowan Graening, Rancho Cordova, California, and 2 sisters, Vicky (Bill) Harbeck of Decatur, Illinois and Linda (Robert) Reilly of Marblehead, Massachusetts. He is also survived by his rescue dogs, Sampson, Niki, and Scruffy. He was predeceased by his parents.
In accordance with Jay’s wishes, his brain has been donated to help in Alzheimer’s research.
There will be no services. Cremation is by Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove
His family would like to thank Washington Regional Hospice for the help and wonderful care that they have provided the past 6 months and to Siloam Springs Nursing Center for his care in his final days.
Memorials are suggested to Washington Regional Hospice in Fayetteville, Arkansas or to the animal shelter of your choice.
Funeral Service
Service information unavailable.
Visitation
Visitation information unavailable.
Final Resting Place
General
Oct 21, 1941
Dec 9, 2020
79
Tributes
My wife and I took Jay's course in "Problem Solving Strategies" in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in Nov. 1983. My wife Barbara never understood math and this was a required course for her to take, but it was the ONLY math course she EVER came close to enjoying. In fact, she loved it. We both remembered Jay as a wonderful teacher, enthusiastic and inspiring. I always loved puzzles anyway (math was my major), but for Barbara to enjoy the course with such fond memories of it is a minor miracle.
Just today, we happened to come across our notes from that class. We were reminiscing about it and the teacher whose name we no longer remembered. I found one of the sheets with Jay's name on it, and just for fun decided to Google it to see what he might be up to these days. And then we learned the sad news that he had passed away only TWO weeks ago. A remarkable coincidence, but extremely saddened to learn of this.
We send our condolences, and we just wanted you to know that even after 37 years Jay is still not forgotten. A wonderful teacher and human being he was. ?
Ted and Barbara Barlag (former teachers at the Saudi Arabian International School in Jeddah)
Ted & Barbara BARLAG - students in Saudi Arabia
Funeral Service
Service information unavailable.
Visitation
Visitation information unavailable.
Final Resting Place
General
Oct 21, 1941
Dec 9, 2020
79