116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Graver, George Donald
George Donald Graver, 83, of Dubuque, passed away Friday, March 2, 2012, at Dubuque Nursing and Rehab. According to his wishes there will be no visitation. A memorial service to honor his life will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1780 White St., Dubuque, at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 9, with the Rev. Pamela Starr officiating. A graveside service will be held at the Lisbon Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.
Don was born July 15, 1928, at Lisbon, Iowa, the son of George Donald Graver and Margaret (Wilson) Graver. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1949, with a degree in dairy science. He served as a medic in the Army from 1950 to 1952. After his stint in Germany, he became a herdsman and dairy manager for several renowned dairy operations. He earned a national reputation as a dairy showman.
He operated a dairy farm in Greeley, Iowa, from 1973 to 1992. After retirement he moved to East Dubuque.
He married Arlene Bovee on Nov. 5, 1996. She preceded him in death on Oct. 6, 2010.
He was past president of the Story and Delaware County Dairy Herd Improvement associations, past board member, past secretary of the Iowa DHIA, and president of the Iowa Guernsey Breeders Association. He was the Delaware Dairyman of the Year and was named as Iowa Distinguished Dairyman of 1983.
He was an extraordinary gentleman, mentor and although he never had children of his own, he leaves behind two stepchildren who thought of him as dad.
He will be missed by family and many friends.
He is survived by two stepchildren, Jerry Walsh and Lori Henkel; four stepgrandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters, Sherry Wilson of Black River Falls, Wis., and Deborah Muskat, and a foster sister, Diane Henthorne, both of Cedar Rapids; nieces, Maggie Watson of Port Huron, Mich., and Debra Mears of Delphi, Ind.; and a special nephew, Jake DeKoyer of Batavia, Ill.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte (Henry) DeKoyer.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Hospice of Dubuque with special thanks to Barb, Chelsea and Jan for their concern and care.
Memorial proceeds will be given to St. Johns Lutheran Guest House Project.
Published March 7, 2012 in The Gazette
Daily Newsletters