Robert E. Mcgraw

Robert E."Bob" McGraw, age 82, of Gladstone, Illinois, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2014 at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa. He was born on February 22, 1931 in Oquawka, Illinois and is the son of Clifford E."Red" and Bertha Baxter McGraw. Bob was raised in Oquawka and Henderson county and attended and graduated from G and O High School with the class of 1949. He then entered the United States Navy and served during the Korean War on the USS Gayety Mine Sweeper and the USS Hamilton Destroyer. He returned in 1953 and married Kathleen I. "Kate" Lewis on June 14, 1953 in Gladstone,. Illinois. She preceded him on December 3, 2012. Bob began work at J.I. Case in Burlington, Iowa where he worked his entire career, forty years, as an experimental technician. He was a member of and past post commander between 1965 and 2000, of the Gladstone Veterans of Foreign Wars post 7082 and was active in the Honor Guard of the post. He is a 54 year member and Past Master of the Oquawka Masonic Lodge 123. Bob joined the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department in 1955, and in 1979 he helped establish the Gladstone Fire District of which he is the current president. He has been a member of the Gladstone Auxiliary Police from 1979 to 2004 and a member of the Civil Defense Police. Bob is survived by his four daughters, Donna K. (Mick) Albin and Patty (Gary) Wood, both of Gladstone, IL.; Kathy (Randy) Grafton of rural Stronghurst, IL.; and Betsy (Scott) Cooper of Gladstone, IL. and one son Lewis McGraw (Tammy) McGraw of Oquawka, IL. There are sixteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. One sister survives, Pauline Woods of Gladstone, IL and one brother, Bill (Pat) McGraw of Liberty, IL. He is preceded in his death by his parents, wife, two sisters, one brother, and an infant grandson. Services:A Masonic service and funeral service will begin at 10:30 am on Wednesday February 12, 2014 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Oquawka, Illinois. Military honors and cremation will follow the funeral services Wednesday. His family plans to receive friends on Tuesday evening, having visitation on February 11, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, also at the funeral home. Memorial funds have been established for either the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department or the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.