‘She was a force for good’: Parents remember KU student killed in hit-and-run crash
By Eric Graves
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LAWRENCE, Kansas (KMBC) — Elsa McGrain’s parents said the world has been robbed of a caring, considerate and loving young woman.
The 20-year-old University of Kansas student was set to graduate in 2026 with the intention of going to medical school.
Now, those plans won’t happen. Elsa was hit and killed by a car Thursday night while out on a run in Lawrence.
Anna and Jordan, Elsa’s parents, are focused on her legacy of love and care for others.
“I can’t even describe how much she gave to others and didn’t worry about herself,” Anna said. “She was very giving, always looking for someone else to help.”
Elsa grew up in Omaha with her parents and three siblings. From a young age, Anna said Elsa had a grin that lit up a room.
“She was a joyful child,” Anna said. “Always happy, easygoing, the best baby and she grew up into the same good-natured young woman that was better than I ever could have been. She really was a gift from God and God was a big part of her life.”
At KU, Elsa was studying to go into medical school.
Jordan said Elsa was set to graduate early in 2026 and had plans for a gap year between undergrad and medical school.
“She was going to graduate a year early because of all the hard work she had done in high school,” Jordan said. “So she was planning mission trips, she was planning a number of things as a volunteer.”
Elsa was also very involved in her sorority on campus, Chi Omega.
“Everyone was like her sister in the sorority and I know how much they’re grieving,” Anna said. “She just was special to so many people.”
Over everything Elsa did in life was her faithfulness in God.
“She was a leader beyond her years,” Anna said. “She developed this summer youth ministry at our church that didn’t exist. She did it from scratch. She ran it. Didn’t care that she was not getting paid for it. She brought hundreds of young adults in from all over Omaha to that ministry.”
Elsa was also a member of The Story Hill Church and The Salt Company college ministry in Lawrence. Story Hill Executive Director Matthew McGill said their church is heartbroken.
“If you knew Elsa, you knew someone marked by Christlike kindness, gentleness, and a burden for the salvation of those around her,” McGill said. “She was always full of joy and cared so deeply about so many people.”
Anna and Jordan said they know Elsa is now in Heaven with God.
“She was comfortable with that,” Anna said. “She said to me a few weeks ago, ‘If I go early, you know, I’ll be with Jesus, and I’m excited, Mom.’ Which I was like, ‘Okay, don’t say that.’ You know, as a mom, but now I take blessing in that.”
Jordan and Anna said Elsa often went running near the location where she was hit. Jordan said when she went for a run she would think about her faith and pray for the people in her life.
“We have a close friend that she texted just prior to her run and asked, ‘What can I pray for you for?'” Anna said. “She would listen to her music. She would connect to God at sunset. That’s what she was doing. That’s how she lived her life for others. That was what she was doing when she died.”
Anna and Jordan said there’s no way to replace the light Elsa brought to their lives, but hearing stories of her kindness and generosity helps.
“It’s just been so inspiring for others to share their experience with her,” Jordan said. “As someone who’s kind, generous, never wanted anybody to feel omitted, wanted to include everyone in the good that the world had to offer and the good that she had to offer.”
Jordan and Anna said there is a time when they will address the suspect in the hit-and-run that killed Elsa, but right now their focus is on her legacy.
The family has created a GoFundMe from the outpouring of support and plans to use the funds to support causes and organizations close to Elsa’s heart.
“That will go absolutely directly to continuing to fund the programs and ministries that were important to her,” said Jordan.
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