Arthur C. Grafing

Rock Rapids, IA        Arthur C. Grafing, 96, of Rock Rapids, IA, died Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.        Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, with Rev. Dan Kordahl officiating.        Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Rock Rapids, with military honors by the Van Anne-Fields VFW Post 6960 and Rex Strait American Legion Post 103.        Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.        Arthur C. Grafing was born June 9, 1921, in Rock Rapids, IA, to Claus and Maggie (Dickman) Grafing. Arthur was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church and was a lifelong member. He was educated in Rock Rapids schools and graduated from high school in 1939. Arthur then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Seabees during World War II.      After being honorably discharged and returning to Rock Rapids, he was united in marriage on February 2, 1947, to Nema M. Foltz at Immanuel Lutheran Church. They farmed on the Grafing farm south of Rock Rapids, and to this union seven children were born.      Arthur raised hogs and cattle, and had an interest in soil conservation. He was a believer in minimum tillage of his land. During his farming years, he served on the church board, elevator board, school board, and the R.E.A. board. He worked with 4-H, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the American Legion and Farm Bureau. In 2005 he and Nema moved into Rock Rapids, and beginning in 2013 they began residing at the Rock Rapids Health Centre.        Arthur is survived by his wife of seventy-one years, Nema Grafing of Rock Rapids, IA; children: Curt Grafing, Lynn (Lynda) Grafing, Reed (Bobbi) Grafing all of Rock Rapids, IA, Steven Grafing of Sibley, IA, Anne (Mark) Honeyman of Ames, IA, Mark Grafing of Worthington, MN and Jamey (Keri) Grafing of Minneapolis, MN; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Glen “Moon” (Leota) Foltz of Rock Rapids, IA; sister-in-law, Jan (Howard) Prieb of Anoka, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.        He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hilda M. A. (Griffen) Lloyd; and sisters-in-law, Ruth (Chuck) Stewart, and Betty (Bob) Schol.