Grant A. Berkland

We are sad to report the death of Grant Amos Berkland, recently of Barrington, NJ. Born on May 19,1986, Grant grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa, where he learned the basics of animal husbandry but preferred to emulate his TV wrestling heroes by choreographing stunt matches with his friends in his father’s barn. His love of the theatrics of “extreme” wrestling took him to the East Coast, where he adopted the combat name of “Danny Havoc” and honed his craft, winning multiple Combat Zone Wrestling championships. Wrestling took him around the world, and he developed a strong fan base in Mexico, Germany, and Japan. Despite his fame and success in this specialized world, he was most known for his kindness, humility, and courtesy to his fans and fellow wrestlers. He was generous with his time and talents in service to his colleagues. Outside the ring, Grant was admired for his gift of language. He could craft an essay or a wedding toast with equal ease, and his fans were entertained by his web postings and color commentary. He was also a talented artist who could depict a beautiful butterfly, a peaceful farm scene, or a rampaging dragon, depending on the inspiration. In 2013, Grant met and fell in love with Brianne Morrow, a luminous and joyful teacher and equestrienne who was the light of Grant’s life. They had many dreams together, but tragically, his bride succumbed to heart failure in late March of 2020. Grant followed her on May 31, 2020. Grant is survived by his parents, Cynthia and Ritch Berkland of Cylinder, Iowa, and his sister Meghan Kent, her husband, Christopher, and their son, Avery, of New Hope, Minnesota. His family did not really share in his enjoyment of staged violence, but they loved his quick wit, eloquence, and big heart. Grant was a true gentleman.