Delbert J. Graeve
January 26, 1924 — November 6, 2009
Delbert John Graeve, son of Otto Joseph and Anna (Munchrath) Graeve, was born on January 26, 1924, in rural Defiance, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Earling, Iowa. After school, Delbert helped his father on the family farm.
During World War II, Delbert moved to Wyoming to work on airplanes.On January 22, 1948, Delbert was united in marriage to Mary "Mick" Elizabeth Graf at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. After their wedding, Delbert and Mick made their home on a farm five miles north of Earling, where they lived for eighteen years. Eight children were born into this union: Gary, Suzanne, Dave, Mary, Joan, Jeanie, Tim and Karen. In 1963, they purchased a farm between Defiance and Manilla and built a new home in 1974. Delbert and Mick retired from farming in February 1992, and moved to their present home in Harlan.
Delbert and Mary loved to go dancing, playing cards with friends, and visits from children and grandchildren. In recent years, he loved watching sports on the television. Delbert was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance before moving to Harlan where he became a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He was a strong activist in the Pro-Life Movement and also a member of the Knights of Columbus Earling Council No. 1741 of Earling, Iowa. Delbert was also a loving father, grandfather, and husband.
Delbert died on Friday, November 6, 2009, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of eighty-five years, nine months, and eleven days. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; his son, Gary; his grandson, Mark Lindstrom; and his siblings: Elmer, Francis, Sr. M. Roland; Betty, Joseph, Fred, Eugene and Dorothy.
He is survived by his children: Suzanne and her husband Kerry Lindstrom of Omaha, Nebraska; Dave Graeve and his wife Linda of Defiance, Iowa; Mary and her husband Lonny Hargens of Omaha, Nebraska; Joan and her husband Tim Sullivan of De Smet, South Dakota; Jeanie and her husband Neil Ferguson of Omaha, Nebraska; Tim Graeve and his wife Ann of Manilla, Iowa; Karen and her husband Lynn Olson of Manilla, Iowa; twenty-six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his sister Luella Musche of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; nieces; nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, November 11, 2009, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrated the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling, Iowa, with Kelly Flynn, Jill Classen, Julie Graeve, Becky Graeve, Beth Graeve, Ann Lesch, Libby Miller, Holly Korch, Christie Sullivan, Michelle Graeve, Laura Olson, Katelyn Olson, Jackie Olson, Michaela Hargens, Broden Lesch, and Taylor Ferguson Wade acting as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were: John Graeve, Michael Hargens, Gary Sullivan, Jeff Hargens, Justin Graeve, Paul Sullivan, and Brian Sullivan.
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During World War II, Delbert moved to Wyoming to work on airplanes.On January 22, 1948, Delbert was united in marriage to Mary "Mick" Elizabeth Graf at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. After their wedding, Delbert and Mick made their home on a farm five miles north of Earling, where they lived for eighteen years. Eight children were born into this union: Gary, Suzanne, Dave, Mary, Joan, Jeanie, Tim and Karen. In 1963, they purchased a farm between Defiance and Manilla and built a new home in 1974. Delbert and Mick retired from farming in February 1992, and moved to their present home in Harlan.
Delbert and Mary loved to go dancing, playing cards with friends, and visits from children and grandchildren. In recent years, he loved watching sports on the television. Delbert was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance before moving to Harlan where he became a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He was a strong activist in the Pro-Life Movement and also a member of the Knights of Columbus Earling Council No. 1741 of Earling, Iowa. Delbert was also a loving father, grandfather, and husband.
Delbert died on Friday, November 6, 2009, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of eighty-five years, nine months, and eleven days. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; his son, Gary; his grandson, Mark Lindstrom; and his siblings: Elmer, Francis, Sr. M. Roland; Betty, Joseph, Fred, Eugene and Dorothy.
He is survived by his children: Suzanne and her husband Kerry Lindstrom of Omaha, Nebraska; Dave Graeve and his wife Linda of Defiance, Iowa; Mary and her husband Lonny Hargens of Omaha, Nebraska; Joan and her husband Tim Sullivan of De Smet, South Dakota; Jeanie and her husband Neil Ferguson of Omaha, Nebraska; Tim Graeve and his wife Ann of Manilla, Iowa; Karen and her husband Lynn Olson of Manilla, Iowa; twenty-six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his sister Luella Musche of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; nieces; nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, November 11, 2009, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrated the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling, Iowa, with Kelly Flynn, Jill Classen, Julie Graeve, Becky Graeve, Beth Graeve, Ann Lesch, Libby Miller, Holly Korch, Christie Sullivan, Michelle Graeve, Laura Olson, Katelyn Olson, Jackie Olson, Michaela Hargens, Broden Lesch, and Taylor Ferguson Wade acting as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were: John Graeve, Michael Hargens, Gary Sullivan, Jeff Hargens, Justin Graeve, Paul Sullivan, and Brian Sullivan.
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