Digital Augusta

Augusta, Kansas

2001-01-27
Collection: 2001

Title

2001-01-27

Subject

Luinstra, Brian W.

Description

Obituaries published in the Augusta Daily Gazette

Creator

Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas]

Source

Augusta Historical Museum, Augusta, Kansas

http://augustahistoricalsociety.com

Publisher

Augusta Public Library, Augusta, Kansas, USA

Date

2001-01-27

Format

Clippings

Language

English

Type

application/pdf

Identifier

b7#04 2001



Citation
Augusta Daily Gazette [Kansas], “2001-01-27,” Digital Augusta, accessed April 23, 2024, https://augusta.digitalsckls.info/item/1183.
Text

Brian Luinstra
Brian W. Luinstra, 29, athletic trainer for Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla, and former Augusta resident died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001.
His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Wichita.
Mr. Luinstra is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son, Garrett; daughter, Alexis, both of the home; parents, Joe and Shari
LUINSTRA Luinstra of
Augusta; brothers, Joe Luinstra of Newton, Stephen Luinstra of Augusta; grandfather, Sam Luinstra of Wichita.
Mr. Luinstra, a graduate of Augusta High School, was the athletic trainer for Oklahoma State University and a former trainer for
Wichita State University.
Several memorials have been established. Brian Luinstra
Fund WSU Foundation, Brian Luinstra Fund with the OSU Dept, of Athletics, and the Brian Luinstra Children’s Fund.
Resthaven Mortuary in Wichita is in charge of arrangements.

Augusta native’s death in crash ‘devastating’

The Wichita sports community was deeply saddened Saturday night 1
when it was learned that Brian Luinstra, a former athletic trainer for Wichita State University and one-time state wrestling champion for Augusta High School, was among those killed in the crash of an Oklahoma State / University team plane.
‘This is one that's devastating,” said former WSU head basketball coach Randy Smithson, his voice shaking. “I can't even explain it. He
was like a brother, a son....I'm without words. He was as close to me as anyone on my staff.”
WSU guard Terrell Benton, who had Luinstra as a trainer for two seasons, was in a state of disbelief and could barely speak when told Luinstra was on the plane.
“All I can say is that my heart goes out to his family and his loved ones,” Benton said. “I just pray for his wife and kids. He was a great guy. This is awfiiL” Luinstra served as assistant trainer for WSU from 1994-1999, when he resigned to take the job as trainer at OSU. He completed his master’s degree while working for WSU.
“We were tom when he left,” said Smithson, who added that he had tears in his eyes when Luinstra told him he was leaving Wichita State.
In the late 1980s, Luinstra was a standout athlete at Augusta High School in football and wrestling. In 1989, he had a perfect season wrestling in the 135-pound class. He won the Class 4A state championship with a record of 30 wins, no losses.
From there it was on to the University of Kansas, where he served as student athletic trainer and graduated in 1994 with a degree in \J,/L$4,TA
sports science. He joined the staff at WSU as a graduate assistant for 1994 and 1995 and W^.C Wm
became a full time assistant trainer in 1996, said Doug Vandersee, assistant athletic Lu,nstra
director and head trainer at WSU.
“He was probably one of the best assistants you could have,” Vandersee said. “His priority was always the athlete and providing them the best care possible, whether that meant coming in early or staying late.”
Spike Anderson, WSU assistant development director, had known Luinstra since they both were students at WSU.
“He was one of those quality guys you always hoped the best for,” Anderson said.
The job with Oklahoma State was too good to pass up — a position at a j1 Big 12 school and the opportunity to expand his work into football—a sport WSU does not offer. 'T
“The athletic trainer there had a chance to move up,” said Vandersee. “I called Terry Noonan, the athletic trainer at OSU, and Brian had expressed interest, and I told (Noonan) he should hire the guy. Hated to lose him”
Luinstra is survived by his wife, Carolyn. The couple had a 2-year-old daughter, Alexis Renee and an infant son, Garrett, according to an OSU media guide.
He also is survived by his parents, Joe and Sherry Luinstra of Augusta and two brothers, Joe and Stephen.
Contributing: Adam Knapp, Kirk Seminoff and Scott Paske of The Eagle

Original Format

Newspaper clipping