Robert Graves

Robert "Bob" Dean Graves was born May 3, 1936 in George, Iowa, the son of Bert and Effie Graves. He spent his childhood in Larchwood and Sibley, Iowa and graduated from Sibley High School. He attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education in 1958. He completed his Master Degree in 1963 in Master of Music. Bob was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfornia Fraternity as well as the Iowa Bandmaster Association. Bob was the band director at Harris Lake Park from 1958-1971, in Spirit Lake from 1971-1987 and in Clay Central from 1988-1989. He received the "Iowa High School Music Association" award certificate of recognition for thirty years of dedicated service to high school music in the State of Iowa. More than half of his teaching career was in Spirit Lake. Bob said, "The Spirit Lake kids helped me earn this award." He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and was a member of the choir, which was dear to him. He enjoyed listening to music, especially classical. Bob passed away April 20, 2011 near Sibley, Iowa as a result of a motor vehicle accident at seventy-four years of age. He is survived by his brother, Ken Graves and his wife Betty, of Odessa, Missouri and their children, Kim Graves (Marty) and daughter Mallory; Cindy Morehead (Kirk) and their sons, Zach Morehead (Michelle) and Nick Morehead, Tom Graves (Cheryl), Marsha (Larry) Taylor; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one older brother, Don Graves and his son, Mark Graves. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turner Jenness Funeral Homes