SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – In the wake of the passing of KTIV long-time Sports Director Brad Pautsch , condolences have poured in from the community.
Brad left an incredible impact on Siouxland as a whole, but especially within the local sports community.
Athletes, teams, community leaders, and fellow broadcasters continue to share their grief and condolences across social media. We’ll continue to update this page as more messages come in.
If you would like to share a memory you have of Brad Pautsch, follow this link.
“I’m saddened to hear of the passing of legendary KTIV Sports Director Brad Pautsch after a lengthy battle with cancer. After watching him growing up, it was surreal to get the opportunity to work with him at KTIV and in the field. Such a wonderful man who was taken way too soon.”
“So sorry to hear this news. Brad was a terrific person. We loved visiting with him on our Cyclone Tailgate Tour. Rest in Peace my friend.”
“Our Dakota News Now Sports team wants to send our heartfelt condolences, thoughts & prayers to the family, friends & co-workers at KTIV & KTIV Sports, of Brad Pautsch who passed away this weekend after a fight with brain cancer. He was a great broadcaster & even better man.
“Saddened by the loss of a great sports journalist and man, Brad Pautsch. He was always the epitome of class and professionalism and was outstanding at shining the light on local athletes. Prayers to his family and friends.”
“We were saddened to hear the news that Brad Pautsch (KTIV Sports) passed away. He was a very good man and did a great job covering local sports… Prayers to his family.”
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Brad Pautsch of KTIV Sports. He was a great person and did a great job covering local sports. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to his family.”
“Prayers to the family of Brad Pautsch. Brad was a wonderful man and we loved having him cover Heelan athletics over the years for KTIV Sports. Siouxland lost a good one today.
“Early Iowa’s own, then Siouxland’s the passing of Brad Pautsch leave so many feeling empty tonight. He touched so many lives as sports director at KTIV 4 in Sioux City. Prayers and condolences to Brad’s family and those who worked with him at KTIV. Gone way too soon!”
“The world lost a awesome person! Brad Pautsch, I’m at a loss for words but know you fought with everything you had my friend! Ms. Sally Eckman Pautsch and family, my sincerest condolences to you and your family!”
“Very sad to hear the passing of Brad Pautsch. What a great person.”
“From a few years ago when Andy Foster and I got to spend some time with Brad Pautsch. RIP Brad.”
“Brad was the best of the best. Praying for his family and my KTIV family.”
“Brad was a spectacular human being and knew everything there is to know about sports in Iowa and way beyond the state borders. I cherish his friendship and feel blessed to have worked with him. I am keeping his family in my prayers. May your memory be eternal, Brad. You will be missed by so many people.”
“Needed a little bit of time to gather my thoughts on this one. For the first five years of my broadcasting career, I had the opportunity to work closely alongside Brad Pautsch each and every day. During my time as weekend sports anchor at KTIV News 4, we sat side-by-side, planning, producing, shooting, editing, and executing local sports television. If I do say so myself, Brad and I made for one hell of a team. We shared countless hours of air time. We acted (poorly) in station promos. We covered a Super Bowl together. He was the perfect sports director/mentor for a young broadcaster like me. Brad took pride in his work, offered constructive criticism and pushed me to be better at my job. Honestly, I think I did the same for him. For five years, we were a well-oiled machine that produced the best local sports coverage in Siouxland. I would not have gotten my current job if Brad Pautsch had not been my boss. After I left for Des Moines, our friendship remained. Brad and I would grab dinner when he was in town for a state tournament. We continued to share texts and phone calls. Then, his cancer diagnosis. Those texts and phone calls became harder to come by, as Brad was battling. But we still found time when we could. Sometimes it was to reminisce on the good times we had working together. Other times it was to talk about Brad’s beloved Cyclones, or to get an update on his family. The last time I saw Brad in person, it was to witness him get inducted into the Iowa Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. I am so proud of the resiliency that Brad showed during his cancer battle. I am so awed by his spirit during the fight. I am so grateful for his authenticity both as a co-worker and as a friend, from our days working together to the last texts we exchanged. Brad left an enormous legacy at KTIV and beyond – he’s a true titan of Siouxland. My thoughts are with the KTIV family, past and present, as well as with Brad’s wife Sally, and his three kids, Joe, Mary and Reggie. Thank you for everything, Brad. I love you and will miss you deeply.”
“You wonder why God takes the good ones. I knew Brad since his college days at Iowa State….Then worked with him for many years. He was a great Dad, Husband and all round good guy. I still use a couple of your quotes. Glad you were in our lives Brad.”
“Sioux City Fire Rescue sends our condolences to Brad’s family, as well as his KTIV family. May he rest peacefully and pain free.”
“The Sioux City Musketeers join the entire Siouxland community in heartbreak and sadness following the passing of Brad Pautsch. He provided amazing coverage of the Musketeers for over three decades while working at KTIV News 4. We would like to express our sincere condolences to Brad‘s wife Sally and their children Joe, Mary, and Reggie. Rest in peace Brad, today we skate one man down.”
“Beyond grateful for all the time I got to spend with Brad. Despite all he was going through, he was ALWAYS available to give advice or talk sports. ❤️ He never missed a beat when it came to sports… could still rattle off some incredible stats or stories he remembered!! He always & forever will be loved by so many people. Fly high Brad!! 🙏🙏”
“I can’t believe we’re having to say goodbye to Brad Pautsch. Brad has been a close and dear friend through my entire time at KTIV. Our love of family and sports bonded us and we came to be a couple of the “old guys” at KTIV together. Our times on the golf course and going to Iowa/Iowa State games on the sidelines together will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m going to miss you deeply Brad. I’m a better person for having known you and your beautiful family.”
“This weekend we lost a local news legend. Brad Pautsch, the longtime Sports Director at KTIV in Sioux City died of brain cancer at just 58 years old. Brad grew up in NW Iowa, went to Iowa State, and spent most of his career covering local sports in Sioux City. He was such a well loved figure across Siouxland, and his personality was no different than what viewers saw on camera. Such a nice and personable guy. When I first moved to Sioux City, he was so friendly and complimentary of my work from the get-go. The man had every reason to have an ego, yet there wasn’t one prideful bone in his body. Brad was initially diagnosed with brain cancer in early 2021, and couldn’t spend much time on the air after that. But he was still working at the station, functioning as sports director even up until a few months ago… I’m glad he got to see his Cyclones doing so well during his final football season on this earth. The man absolutely loved every minute of his job, and poured his heart into it. And still found time to be a devoted husband, and father to his 3 kids. It was an honor to cover national championships and state titles alongside Brad. Truly a loss felt in Siouxland, around the state of Iowa, and across the world of local news. Brad will be deeply missed.”
“I remember seeing Brad on the sidelines at football, basketball and volleyball games during my time as a Cardinal in South Sioux City. He was always so kind to us athletes. It was a team bragging right if your highlight made it into his sportscast at 10! Years later, after joining the local news industry, I’d run into Brad now and again and got to know him as more than just “KTIV’s Brad Pautsch”. I would often shoot sports highlights during my time at Siouxland News and loved running into Brad on the sidelines. One of my first football games, he was there. And though I was a “competitor”, he guided me ensuring I knew which end of the football field I needed to be on for the best highlight when I knew next to nothing about the game. Years later, I joined the team at KTIV, I found myself filling in on the anchor desk during a SportsFource night. Brad was in the newsroom that evening. We sat and spoke for a while. He gave me advice I think of often and I’ll cherish forever. We may not have been colleagues for long, but growing up in Siouxland, I feel like I’ve known Brad all my life. I’m honored to have known him personally, just for a moment. The Siouxland sports world was a better place because of Brad and his love and dedication for the work, and the people he came across every day. He will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.”
“When I worked in news at KTIV News 4, Brad sat kitty-corner behind me and I’ll never forget how hard he worked to broadcast sports in Siouxland. He was an incredible sports reporter/anchor, colleague and friend. Overall just a wonderful guy. I’m thankful to have known him and to have worked side by side with him. And I was lucky enough to shoot some games for him and the sports crew! He fought so hard his last few years of life with a really hard diagnosis and he will forever be missed. rest in peace, Brad❤️ Siouxland won’t be the same without you.”
“I feel flooding social with pictures of Brad Pautsch is the only proper thing to do. It’s quite obvious I was a huge fan of Brad’s. I’ve known him since senior year of HS since I worked at the X’s ballpark. He was the first one to interview me, the first to show me a TV news camera. I also had a big crush on him, which was revealed on our wedding day years later. He pushed me to learn football during Sports Fource and was a friend and colleague I’ll always cherish. Al and I went to an X’s game with Brad and Sally last year, a definite treasured memory now. He fought the good fight, and now it’s time to rest easy, good and faithful servant of God. RIP, Brad.”
“Yesterday was a tough day for a lot of people in Siouxland. Cate saw me struggling with the news of Brad Pautsch’s passing and drew me a picture to make me feel better, but not even that could help. Guys like Brad Pautsch don’t come around very often, and I was fortunate enough to call him a good friend and mentor. Life’s not fair and Cancer sucks! But you would have never heard Brad complain… wasn’t his style. I’m going to miss him a lot. He gave me my first shot in TV as a sports intern in 1998 and the rest is history. He loved baseball and would always shoot the X’s games, unless it rained and then he’d tell me “It’s time for you to get acquainted with the rain gear Trav.” One of the best things about being in broadcasting is the people you work with/against. Half the fun of covering games was hanging out with Pautsch and Tim Seaman on a nightly basis. I’ve attended more games standing next to Brad than I have with anyone else… even if it was for just 15-20 minutes. Most Siouxland athletes remember to this day the night Brad Pautsch said their name on the air during highlights. He was a fantastic journalist, but an even better father and husband. He gushed about Reggie, Mary, and Joe when they did well, and my heart goes out to them and Sally. Rest in peace buddy… you don’t have to rush to that 6:00 game, get held up by trains at 9:50, find a score that didn’t get called in, worry about a JV game going long, or hear complaints because you didn’t get shots of the band while you were there. Your show was perfect and you can go home and rest now 🥹”
“The Sioux City Explorers are saddened and heartbroken in hearing of the passing of Brad Pautsch. Without him the X’s wouldn’t be what they are today and wouldn’t reach the thousands of people Brad reached to on the daily. Our prayers, thoughts, and deepest condolences go to the Pautsch family.”
“Brad Pautsch, you have a lasting impact on many here in Siouxland and will be missed deeply. It was an honor to direct your sportscast for many years at KTIV. I will never forget the hectic Friday Sportsfource Extra nights but you were always able to pull it off smoothly. Your passion for baseball and baseball cards is something I will never forget. Rest in peace my friend- Trevor”
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