Our Dad was a carpenter most of his life. In his younger years, he was a title holding Golden Gloves boxer. (We put this in here because Dad would want everyone to know) He enjoyed making people laugh, dancing, cooking, fishing, and woodworking. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family. Dad turned his life over to God and loved talking to everyone about Jesus. He was a man of strong faith and will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Rita A. Graves, nee Horn, whom he married on December 31, 1968, and who died on February 2, 2017; his parents, Oscar and Nina, nee Brown, Graves; and two brothers, Harold Graves and Richard Graves.
He is survived by his children, Angela S. (John) Snyder, Steven R. (Lori) Graves, Julia (Jerry) Fisher, Sherry (Scott) Giles, Cynthia (Dave) Conley, Robert G. Graves, Jeffery Johnson, and Kevin (Denise) Kaszuba; a special friend, Patricia Muckenstrum; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Ernest (Irene) Graves; and two sisters-in-law, Marilyn (Lee) Rich of Carlyle, IL, and Brenda Cohen of California; and nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. Condolences may be expressed online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, October 16, 2021, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL. Standard CDC guidelines, including masks and social distancing will be observed.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Saturday, October 16, 2021, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Pastor Jeff Chism officiating. Masks are required.
Burial will be at Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville, IL.