Obituary: Ernest Reed Grafke

Funeral services for Ernest Reed Grafke, 69, Basehor, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2005 at Tonganoxie Christian Church, 204 Washington Street.

Mr. Grafke died Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. He was born Sept. 8, 1935, in Omaha, Neb., the son of Henry and Marjorie (Towne) Grafke. He served in the U.S. Navy.

On July 23, 1980, he married Nellie (Eslick) Colson in Miami, Okla.. Mr. Grafke retired as co-owner of Keller Fire and Safety Co, Kansas City, Kan., in 2000.

He was a member of the Tonganoxie Christian Church, and a former member of the Wyandotte County Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his son, Douglas Colson, and a sister, Sally Waters.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Ernest Reed Grafke Jr., Keller, Texas, and Dale F. Grafke, Olathe; two daughters, Brenda Grafke Hamilton, Goodyear, Ariz., and Cyndi Colson Penner, DeSoto; one daughter-in-law, Nancy Colson Hobelmann, Kansas City, Kan.; two brothers, Edgar Grafke, Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Stuart Grafke, Richmond, Mo.; two sisters, Eva Hinds, Louisburg, and Marjorie Grafke-Doby, Leaven-worth; and 10 grandchildren.

Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, Kan. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the church, and one hour before the service on Saturday.

The family suggests memorials to the Show Me Christian Youth Home in care of Quisenberry Funeral Home, P.O. Box 993, Tonganoxie, KS 66086.