Brett J. Graeve
January 10, 2011
Brett J. Graeve, 52, died Monday, January 10, 2011, at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, from complications of leukemia. He was born June 27, 1958, in Des Moines to Jerry and Lois (Webb) Graeve and graduated from Southeast Polk High School.
Brett worked for Stone Container for 20 years, Dynamic Dies for 10 years, Quality Manufacturing for 5 years, and was co-owner of Granny’s Sweet Freeze in Des Moines for 13 years. He served as a volunteer fireman and EMT for Delaware Township. Brett was an expert archer, earning championship titles in Iowa and Missouri, and finished sixth in the world archery tournament in Las Vegas. He was a member of the Mid-Iowa Archers, and was an avid sportsman and hunter.
Brett is survived by his wife of 18 years, Dawna (Williams) Graeve; daughter, Stefanie (Beau) Nielsen and their children, Gavvon and Mia; daughter, Missy Graeve and her son, Wrex Henry; parents, Jerry and Lois Graeve; sister, Terri (Bruce) Barnes; brothers, J.D. (Cathy) Graeve and Jeff (Jacki) Graeve; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, January 14, 2011, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue. Visitation will be held from 12 to 8 p.m., with family present from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family in loving memory of Brett.
Online condolences may be made to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
missy.
11/06/2012
Dear dad, I want to tell you how proud I am to have you as my dad. I think about you everyday. I miss you more than you can imagine. But I know you are in a great place and we will see you again. Keep watching over wrexy for me. I wish you could have been here to watch him grow up I know you would just love him. I love you dad.
Hugo Barrientos
01/29/2011
my condolences He was a great person and a awesome archer.
Robert Miller & Family
01/14/2011
Dawna, I wanted to send my condolences to you and your family. I have many fond memories of working with you and Brett at the Mid Iowa Archers shoots and the ice cream from the shop. I have missed being up there, and your family have been in my prayers. Our deepest sympathy.
Robert, Christina, & Payton Miller
Rick,Dharma,Heidi,Marc,Carol
01/14/2011
Our deepest sympathy to all of you. Sorry we are unable to be with you all at this difficult time.
Becky Hilbrand
01/14/2011
Jerry and Lois and the Graeve family: I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you all.
Joni (Gyles) Smith
01/14/2011
I am so sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Chloris SToll
01/14/2011
Dawna
So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and proayers are with you. My God grant you peace an comfort at this time and in the days ahead.
Mrs. Stoll (your first grade teacher at Norwoodville )
Glen Sayre
01/14/2011
Jerry,Lois,Dawna and family,
Our prayers and thoughts are of you and the passing of our friend and co-worker.
My mother wrote me yesterday and I about fell out of my chair.
I never could have even thought about Brett leaving before I would.
The past 2 days have been envaded by thoughts of what we used to do and
of how well we worked togeather @ Stone.
The records we set on the press's and the stupid mistakes we made that
have now become very funny.
Brett was a good man, and a friend, who contributed to making me a part
of who I have become.
The world is a little less sunny with his passing but thoughts and
memories of him and his life will always bring a smile to me.
God bless ya'll
Glen and Jackie
Ashley Toncar
01/13/2011
Dear Dawna and Family,
I am truly sorry for your loss of such a great man. You are truly fortunate to have been blessed with his love and presence over the years. He was not only a great neighbor and friend to us, but to my grandmother and grandfather at their most difficult time in their lives.
You should be so proud of him and the man he is. He will truly be missed by so many. To have the love and support from so many great people is a real blessing. His strength and passion for life is an inspiration and has shown me to never skip a beat and enjoy life to the fullest.
Your uplifting spirits and encouraging Facebook posts has truly made me admire you, Dawna, as well. Your poise and fight for his life has shown what true love and compassion for another person really means. I know Brett will be looking over you always and forever and be so proud and grateful he had you for a wife.
I know the services will be beautiful and I am sorry I was unable to attend. Keep strong and always remember, he will be around you forever, watching over and keeping you safe.
Love and Prayers,
Ashley Toncar
Ervin Pam & Family
01/13/2011
Our deepest sympathy For you and your family Dawna. I know I'll miss seeing his Deer each fall. God bless you and yours. Erv Pam and Family.
Michelle and Nathan Groom
01/13/2011
Dawna,
We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Sandie Bolten
01/13/2011
Dawna, I'm so very sorry to hear of the loss of Brett. Just know that you will have the memories forever. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time for you and your family.
Love, Sandie
Jennifer Smith
01/13/2011
Missy-
We are very sorry for your your loss and pray for peace and comfort to bless you and your family.
With Sympathy and Respectfully Yours,
Jennifer and Adrian Smith
Susan Smith-Wrex Henry's cousins and great aunt
Dan O'Brien
01/13/2011
Dean Dawna and Family,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I knew Brett when I was the General Manager of Pittsburgh for Dynamic Dies. We ohly met a few times at our National Sales Meetings but his infectous smile and great personality will last forever. Lisa has updated all of us along the way and we are all proud to have crossed paths with Brett and how hard he fought leukemia.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. My wife has lost two family members to leukemia so we understand some of the struggles with this disease.
Please keep your faith during this difficult time. You have a lot of people praying for you and your daughters to have strength and courage to move forward.
With deepest sympathy,
Dan
Kalina (Reed) Maxwell
01/12/2011
I'm sorry to read of your son's recent death. Please know that you have thoughts and prayers from people you know now, and people from looooong ago. I knew Mrs Graeve when I was a student at Hoyt in the mid-1970's.