Obituary of Jeanette Graham

Jeanette (DeYoung) Graham, the daughter of John and Katherine (Muilenburg) DeYoung was born on December 10, 1916 at Sanborn, IA. She grew up on a farm northwest of Sanborn, attended rural schools through the eighth grade, and then graduated from Sanborn High School in 1934. She attended summer school at Iowa State Normal School in Cedar Falls and taught for three years in a rural school near the farm where she grew up. She was united in marriage to E. Dale Graham on December 24, 1937 in Sanborn. They lived on a farm two miles east of Sanborn until 1977 when they purchased a home in Sanborn. During retirement they enjoyed ten winters in Sun City, AZ. Jeanette moved to Prairie View Manor on September 1, 2001, and lived there until she entered Prairie View Nursing Home on March 14, 2006. Jeanette was a bookkeeper for Farmers Co-operative Elevator and other small businesses in the area. She enjoyed politics and served ten years as Chairman of the O’Brien County Democratic Party. She was a Girl Scout leader, was active in Music Mothers while her children were in school, belonged to WMB’s Club as well as several bridge clubs. She was a member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church. She is survived by her children: Joan (Jim) Sanders of Couer d’ Alene, ID, L. Woody (Angie) Graham of Des Moines, IA, Holly (Jerry) Watters of Indianola, IA, and Laurie Graham of West Lafeyette, IN; her grandchildren: Brian Sanders of Hayden, ID, Jeff (Suzanne) Sanders of Rathdrum, ID, Shelley Sanders of Couer ‘d Alene, ID, Kelly Graham of Sheldon, IA, Joe (Vicki) Watters of Ames, IA, and Matthew (Holly) Watters of Ankeny, IA; eight great-grandchildren: Tian, Briessa, Austin, and Payton Sanders, and Rachel, Alissa, Nicole, Amanda, and Allison Watters; four brothers: John (Irene) DeYoung of Melvin, IA, Robert (Lydia) DeYoung of Yucaipa, CA, Vernon DeYoung of San Diego, CA, and Glen (Sue) DeYoung of Sierra Vista, AZ; and one sister, Dorothy (Lester) Snider of Spirit Lake, IA; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale, in 1991; a son, Robin William in infancy; three brothers, Herman, Martin, and James; a sister, Wilma Raymond; and an infant granddaughter, Ann Catherine Watters. In Remembrance of Jeanette Graham Born ~ December 10, 1916 Died ~ January 22, 2007 Age ~ 90 years 1 month 12 days Funeral Service 1:30 pm Thursday, January 25 St. Andrew’s UMC Church, Sanborn Officiating ~ Rev. Tom Connors and Rev. Jim DeYoung Organist ~ Chris Van Meeteren Soloist ~ Allene Baichtal “Amazing Grace” Pallbearers Brian Sanders Jeff Sanders Joe Watters Matt Watters Lanny DeYoung Kenny Brower Don Kroese Jay Raymond Honorary Pallbearers Kelly Graham Bruce Petrich Roy Townsend Wayne Raymond Jim Jackson Ushers Bob Postma Gary Bohnet Flower Attendant Jean Snyder Interment Roseland Cemetery, Sanborn