David Graham
April 20, 1923 — May 21, 2009
David Lewis Graham was born on April 20, 1923, to Frank and Myrtle (Lewis) Graham in Arriba, Colorado. Other children born into the Graham family were: Donald, Mary Margaret, George, and Keith.
Shortly after he was born, David and his family moved to Coleridge, Nebraska where David was baptized at Pilgrim Congregational Church and attended country school at Lincoln District 37.
After completing school, David worked on the family farm before enlisting in the United States Navy where he served his country during World War II. David worked in the postal department on his ship and also spent some of his time in Shanghai, China.
On June 8, 1943, he was united in marriage to Abbie Marie Ericksen in Cedar County, Nebraska. Three children were born to this union: Mylene, Ronda, and Alan. In 1957, David and Abbie moved to Oakland, Iowa, where they farmed. They also farmed near Elk Horn, Iowa for several years before they purchased their home in Walnut in 1979. While in Walnut, David worked for a short time putting up farm buildings and in the early 1980's, he went to work for JP Industries, a bearing manufacturing plant in Atlantic, Iowa. David retired from JP Industries in 1997.
David enjoyed anything to do with horses, riding them and having teams of them. At Walnut’s Antique Festival, David used his team and wagon to give rides to visitors around town. He was the most comfortable when he was wearing his bib overalls and always looked forward to attending horse sales in St. Joseph and Jamesport, Missouri. David never met a stranger and always had a story to tell.
He was a member of Oakland Congregational Church, and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa. David belonged to the AmVets and the American Legion Post No. 422 in Walnut.
David became a resident of the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in December of 2008 and it was there that he died on Thursday, May 21, 2009, having attained the age of eighty-six years, one month, and one day. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Donald and George, and his granddaughter Shari.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years Abbie Graham of Avoca, Iowa; his children: Mylene and her husband Ken Riley of Walnut, Iowa, Ronda Larimore of Boone, Iowa, and Alan Graham and his wife Janet of Avoca, Iowa; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his sister Mary Margaret "Maggie" and her husband Ray DeVereaux of Denver, Colorado, brother Keith Graham and his wife Sharon of Coleridge, Nebraska; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
Vicar Merlene Ostebee led the 10:30 AM Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa. The Walnut American Legion Post No. 422 performed Military Rites. Honorary casket bearers were Paul Riley, Jim McDermott, Neal Schirm, Bill Lillard, Rich Behrend, Bruce Nelson, Lloyd Nelson, Jerry Hayes, and Dave Blum. The burial and military rites were held on Friday, May 29, 2009, with Rev. Gary Kimm performing the 1:00 PM service. The Coleridge American Legion Post No. 114 performed military rites at Coleridge Cemetery in Coleridge, Nebraska.
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Shortly after he was born, David and his family moved to Coleridge, Nebraska where David was baptized at Pilgrim Congregational Church and attended country school at Lincoln District 37.
After completing school, David worked on the family farm before enlisting in the United States Navy where he served his country during World War II. David worked in the postal department on his ship and also spent some of his time in Shanghai, China.
On June 8, 1943, he was united in marriage to Abbie Marie Ericksen in Cedar County, Nebraska. Three children were born to this union: Mylene, Ronda, and Alan. In 1957, David and Abbie moved to Oakland, Iowa, where they farmed. They also farmed near Elk Horn, Iowa for several years before they purchased their home in Walnut in 1979. While in Walnut, David worked for a short time putting up farm buildings and in the early 1980's, he went to work for JP Industries, a bearing manufacturing plant in Atlantic, Iowa. David retired from JP Industries in 1997.
David enjoyed anything to do with horses, riding them and having teams of them. At Walnut’s Antique Festival, David used his team and wagon to give rides to visitors around town. He was the most comfortable when he was wearing his bib overalls and always looked forward to attending horse sales in St. Joseph and Jamesport, Missouri. David never met a stranger and always had a story to tell.
He was a member of Oakland Congregational Church, and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa. David belonged to the AmVets and the American Legion Post No. 422 in Walnut.
David became a resident of the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in December of 2008 and it was there that he died on Thursday, May 21, 2009, having attained the age of eighty-six years, one month, and one day. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Donald and George, and his granddaughter Shari.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years Abbie Graham of Avoca, Iowa; his children: Mylene and her husband Ken Riley of Walnut, Iowa, Ronda Larimore of Boone, Iowa, and Alan Graham and his wife Janet of Avoca, Iowa; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his sister Mary Margaret "Maggie" and her husband Ray DeVereaux of Denver, Colorado, brother Keith Graham and his wife Sharon of Coleridge, Nebraska; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
Vicar Merlene Ostebee led the 10:30 AM Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa. The Walnut American Legion Post No. 422 performed Military Rites. Honorary casket bearers were Paul Riley, Jim McDermott, Neal Schirm, Bill Lillard, Rich Behrend, Bruce Nelson, Lloyd Nelson, Jerry Hayes, and Dave Blum. The burial and military rites were held on Friday, May 29, 2009, with Rev. Gary Kimm performing the 1:00 PM service. The Coleridge American Legion Post No. 114 performed military rites at Coleridge Cemetery in Coleridge, Nebraska.
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