Alvin Dean Graber, 91, of Newton, Kansas, formally of Washington, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at the Kansas Christian Home in Newton.
Graveside services will be 10:30 am Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Bethel Mennonite Cemetery with Robert Hartzler officiating. Visitation will begin at noon Friday at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington with the family receiving friends at 5:00 pm with a sharing service at 7:00. A general memorial has been established in his name.
Alvin was born March 16, 1917, in Wayland, IA, the son of John and Josephine (Roth) Graber. He was united in Marriage to Elizabeth Amanda Alston on December 21, 1941 in Wayland. After years of farming, Alvin worked for his brother Wilbert at Graber' Home Improvement in Washington for 29 years: from 1957 to 1986. In 1986 they moved to Freeman, South Dakota to be closer to family. They relocated to Newton, Kansas in 2001. They were lifelong members in the Mennonite Church.
Survivors include children Lorene Kaufman of Newton, KS; Lilah (Allen) Bohn of Wichita, KS; Rodney of Topeka, KS; Lavonne (Harvey) Dyck of Glenbush, Saskatchewan, Canada; sister Stella Boshart of Wayland; 10 Grandchildren; 12 Great-Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elizabeth (January 19, 2007), 4 brothers, 7 sisters, a son-in-law Lawrence Kaufman, a Grandson Randy Kaufman and a Great-Granddaughter Laura Landis.