Leo F. Graeve
February 29, 1932 — January 26, 2011
Leo Francis Graeve was born on February 29, 1932, to Henry and Rose (Mueller) Graeve in Earling, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. After his graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army.
He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in February of 1955, returning home to work at Standard Oil.
He was united in marriage to Joanne Shields at St. Joseph’s. Eight children were born to this union: LuAnn, Bernie, Pat, Larry, Jeff, Brian, Sam, and Chad.
Leo loved the kids and drove the school bus. He was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and served on the parish council. He was a member of the Earling American Legion Post No. 615 and served as Fire Chief of the Earling Volunteer Fire Department.
He was an Independent Oil Jobber for Amoco Oil Company. An accident that pinned him between two trucks forced his retirement in 1984. He enjoyed playing golf with family and friends. A sense of humor was important to him. He was known as the kindest man in Earling.
Leo died on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at Elm Crest Retirement Home having attained the age of seventy-eight years, ten months, and twenty-eight days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Alfons, William, Raymond, Harry, and Charles, and sisters: Rita, Margaret, and Esther.
He is survived by his wife Joanne Graeve of Harlan, Iowa; children: LuAnn Brown of Castle Rock, Colorado, Bernie Graeve of Memphis, Tennessee, Pat Graeve and his wife Loretta of Terrebon, Oregon, Larry Graeve and his wife Kathy of Ankeny, Jeff Graeve and his wife Jeanie of Ankeny, Iowa, Brian Graeve and his wife Annette of Ankeny, Sam Graeve and his wife Kathy of Audubon, Iowa, and Chad Graeve and his wife Kimberly of Earling, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters: Helen Petsche of Harlan, Veronica Hodapp of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Irene Arkfeld of Panama, Iowa, Mary Agnes and her husband Stanley Korducki of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ruth and her husband Ray Korducki; brothers: Leonard Graeve and his wife Joyce of Harlan, Al Graeve and his wife Mick of Earling, Jim Graeve and his wife Mary Ann of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Larry Graeve and his wife Colleen of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; other family members and many friends.
Rev. Chris Fontanini celebrated the 2:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, January 28, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Holly Brazell, Trisha Brown, Taylor Brown, Aaryn Graeve, David Graeve, Jackson Graeve, Jake Graeve, and Katie Graeve. Serving as casket bearers were Mark Graeve, Rachel Graeve, Jessica Graeve, Ross Brown, Alex Graeve, and Tom Graeve. Military Rites were performed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling by Earling American Legion Post No. 615.
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He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in February of 1955, returning home to work at Standard Oil.
He was united in marriage to Joanne Shields at St. Joseph’s. Eight children were born to this union: LuAnn, Bernie, Pat, Larry, Jeff, Brian, Sam, and Chad.
Leo loved the kids and drove the school bus. He was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and served on the parish council. He was a member of the Earling American Legion Post No. 615 and served as Fire Chief of the Earling Volunteer Fire Department.
He was an Independent Oil Jobber for Amoco Oil Company. An accident that pinned him between two trucks forced his retirement in 1984. He enjoyed playing golf with family and friends. A sense of humor was important to him. He was known as the kindest man in Earling.
Leo died on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at Elm Crest Retirement Home having attained the age of seventy-eight years, ten months, and twenty-eight days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Alfons, William, Raymond, Harry, and Charles, and sisters: Rita, Margaret, and Esther.
He is survived by his wife Joanne Graeve of Harlan, Iowa; children: LuAnn Brown of Castle Rock, Colorado, Bernie Graeve of Memphis, Tennessee, Pat Graeve and his wife Loretta of Terrebon, Oregon, Larry Graeve and his wife Kathy of Ankeny, Jeff Graeve and his wife Jeanie of Ankeny, Iowa, Brian Graeve and his wife Annette of Ankeny, Sam Graeve and his wife Kathy of Audubon, Iowa, and Chad Graeve and his wife Kimberly of Earling, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters: Helen Petsche of Harlan, Veronica Hodapp of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Irene Arkfeld of Panama, Iowa, Mary Agnes and her husband Stanley Korducki of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ruth and her husband Ray Korducki; brothers: Leonard Graeve and his wife Joyce of Harlan, Al Graeve and his wife Mick of Earling, Jim Graeve and his wife Mary Ann of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Larry Graeve and his wife Colleen of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; other family members and many friends.
Rev. Chris Fontanini celebrated the 2:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, January 28, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Holly Brazell, Trisha Brown, Taylor Brown, Aaryn Graeve, David Graeve, Jackson Graeve, Jake Graeve, and Katie Graeve. Serving as casket bearers were Mark Graeve, Rachel Graeve, Jessica Graeve, Ross Brown, Alex Graeve, and Tom Graeve. Military Rites were performed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling by Earling American Legion Post No. 615.
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