Graves, William 1887 - 1979

GRAVES, RHODE, JOBES, SCHAFFER, HITCHCOCK

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 11/3/2020 at 19:02:22

The Sibley Tribune, Thursday, July 12, 1979, Sibley, Iowa, Page 16

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 5, at the Melvin United Methodist Church of Melvin at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Paul Hansen officiated. Interment was in the Baker Township Cemetery at Melvin with the Sanborn Funeral Home Service in charge of arrangements.

William Graves, the son of Hans and Minnie (Rhode) Graves, was born in Melvin on July 29, 1887. He was united in marriage to Nellie Jobes of Melvin on March 10, 1910 at Melvin.

He was one of the early pioneers of bridge and highway building in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota as well as Alaska. He was the founder of the Graves Construction Co. of Melvin. He was a member of the Melvin United Methodist Church, Kiwanis International and a member of the Iowa Associated General Contractors for more than 40 years.

He died at the Sibley hospital on July 2 at the age of 91 years.

He is survived by one son, Kenneth, of Melvin; one daughter, Beulah (Mrs. Clarence A. Schaffer) of Melvin; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Carlena Hitchcock of Melvin.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie, in 1977; four brothers, two sisters, one granddaughter, and his parents.