Graham, Vernon R. 1931-2010

GRAHAM, COPELAND, KIRBY, SIEBKE, FABACHER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/11/2012 at 15:13:32

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; April 8, 2010

VERNON R. GRAHAM

Vernon R. Graham, 79, of Grinnell died Friday, April 2, 2010, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, April 7, at Grinnell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Walt Claussen, pastor of Newburg-Chester Congregational Church, officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner. Casket bearers were Doug Allen, Dennis Conway, David Kaisand, Ken McMains, Royal Roland and Roger Smith. Honorary bearers were Val Courter, Betty Hammond, Howard McDonough, Maynard Raffety and Larry Wilson. Interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Newburg-Chester Congregational Church or to the Odd Fellows Lodge.

He was born March 5, 1931, in Grinnell, the son of Earl and Laura Belle Copeland Graham. He was raised on the family farm, rural Grinnell, and attended Chester #2 School. He graduated from Newburg High School in 1948.

On Dec. 5, 1954, he was united in marriage with Phyllis Darlene Kirby in Newburg. They operated a grain and livestock farm in Chester Township until moving recently to Seeland Park in Grinnell.

He was a member of the Newburg-Chester Congregational Church. He had served on several committees including the Poweshiek County Extension Council and the Poweshiek County 4-H Council; for 12 years on the Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, the board of directors of St. Francis Manor and board of directors of Seeland Park. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, the Grinnell Elks Lodge, Sonora Grange and the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.)

He is survived by his wife Phyllis Graham of Grinnell; one son, David Graham of Grinnell; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister Loretta Siebke of Davenport and two brothers, George Graham of Grinnall and Duane Graham of Bloomington, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son Ronald; an infant grandson; and one sister, Eulice Fabacher.