Grant Charles Vytlacil, 48 years, died suddenly of an apparent drowning Monday, September 7, 2026 while swimming at Nicolet Beach near Fish Creek, WI. At 6'9", Grant had a way of standing out in a room before he ever said a word. But anyone who knew him-or was lucky enough to have him wait on their table-or had a custom Hat made by him-quickly discovered that the size of the man was matched by the size of his heart. Grant was kind, funny, intelligent, welcoming, witty, sarcastic, and unmistakably himself. He was born August 22, 1978 in St. Charles, IL the son of George and Rhea (Jones) Vytlacil. Grant graduated from Elgin High School. Grant made Door County his home in 1999, though his family's connection to the peninsula stretched back much further. His maternal great-grandfather's roots in Ephraim date to 1909, and his grandfather, Roy C. Jones, was one of the founders of SCAND in Sister Bay, his family has been coming up to DC all of their lives for four generations and will continue for many to come. His working life took him through some familiar Door County institutions, beginning in produce at Piggly Wiggly and including Northern Grill, Mr. Helsinki's, Hat Head, and Barringer's. Grant loved music, from polka to rap, from house music to Dolly, all at Grant-approved volume, (which was louder). He loved food, cooking, art, politics, swatch watches, hats, jokes, his friends and family, and he was always interested in people and what made them all unique. Grant leaves behind his mother, Rhea Vytlacil; his father, George Vytlacil; his sister, Valerie White (Vytlacil), and her husband, Adam White; his nephew, Drake White, and Drake's wife, Chelsea; his great-nephew, Frances White; his niece, Vyolette White; his girlfriend, Stephanie Hedquist; and a large extended family and an extraordinary number of friends throughout Door County and beyond. He also leaves behind "the boys”, Ichibod and Edgar, and Quincess -because no accounting of Grant's family would be accurate if the animals were left out. Door County will feel different without him. At 6'9", Grant took up plenty of vertical space in this world. But turns out he took up considerably more room in people's hearts. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Grant's memory to The Farm (4285 Highway 57, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin). There will be a celebration of life on Sunday, September 13, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Huehns Funeral Home (1414 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay WI). Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Grant may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.