Graber, Joseph M. (1896-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 17 p. 3

Birth date: 1896 May 8

text of obituary:

Dairyman Killed In Boiler Explosion

ACCIDENT AT NEW DAIRY, HUTCHINSON, FATAL TO J. M. GRABER

Hutchinson, Kan. — A gas explosion in a large boiler at the new Graber Dairy here Monday afternoon claimed the life of Joe M. Graber, Route 3, formerly of Pretty Prairie.

Funeral services are to be held Thursday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church of Pretty Prairie, of which he was a member.

Mr. Graber, well-known Guernsey breeder, entered the retail dairy business here in 1953 and his new plant on East Fourth Street was nearly completed at the time of the tragedy. He was attempting to light the boiler when there was a terrific explosion. It blew off a heavy metal plate which struck him in the head. His son, Vern Graber, and another workman were in the boiler room but were not injured.

Surviving are his widow, Elsie, five children, three grandchildren, one brother and four sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Feb 21 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOE M. GRABER

Joseph M. Graber was born near Pretty Prairie, Kansas on May 6, 1896, to Jacob K. and Maria Graber. In this community he was educated and raised to manhood. He was baptized by Dr. J. W. Kliewer at Bethel College while attending school there, and became a member of the First Mennonite Church of Pretty Prairie.

On June 10, 1923, he was married to Elsie Garber of Marion, S.D. They lived on a farm east of Pretty Prairie until 1953 when they moved to the Braden farm northwest of Hutchinson. Here he and his family were engaged in farming and the processing of dairy products. At the time of his death on Jan. 14, 1957, he had just completed a modern dairy plant in the city of Hutchinson.

The long and hard hours he put into the work as a dairyman and dairy promoter never found him too busy to help a neighbor or friend in need. The proof of his Christian convictions was the manner in which he performed his daily tasks.

Surviving are the widow, Elsie; three daughters, Mrs. Richard Tipton, Hutchinson, Mrs. John Kliewer, Lawrence, Mrs. Paul Nachtigal, McCoy, Colo.; two sons, Vern of the home, and Bob of Denver, Colo.; three sons-in-law, Richard Tipton, John Kliewer, and Paul Nachtigal; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Graber; one brother, Walter W. of Pretty Prairie; four sisters, Mrs. J. J. Kaufman, Mrs. Paul Voran, and Mrs. Ed R. Krehbiel, all of Pretty Prairie, and Mrs. Arthur Waltner of Hutchinson; and three grandchildren.

The Mennonite obituary: 1957 Mar 5 p. 158