Herman James Graves

Gillette, WY: Herman James Graves, 81, of Gillette, Wyoming, formerly Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado. A funeral service will be held Monday, January 29, at 11:00 AM at the First Reformed Church of Doon, Iowa with Pastor Jerod Jordan officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the service at at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held Sunday, January 28, from 2:00-3:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley. Memorials may be directed to the COPD Foundation.

    Herman James Graves, son of John and Wilmina (Jacobs) Graves, was born October 5, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1943, the Graves family moved to Rock Valley, Iowa where Herm attended Rock Valley Christian School through the 8^th grade and graduated from Rock Valley High School. Herm served in the United States National Guard and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. In 1964, Herm was united in marriage with Judy Hamann. The couple made their home in Rock Valley until moving to Gillette, Wyoming in 2010. Judy passed away in 2010. In 2020, Herm married Sharon Van Den Top and the couple continued living in Gillette.

    Herm worked with his father as a plumber, and later was an over the road truck driver, and spent time working for Van Zee Enterprises, Demco, and Total Component Solutions. One of his most loved jobs was working as a groundkeeper for St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Rock Valley and mowing for the Parks & Recreation Department in Gillette.

    Herm had a great love for God and was a great studier of the scriptures on a daily basis. He also loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought him great joy. 

    Herm is survived by his wife, Sharon of Gillette; son, Keith Graves (Tina Cox) of Gillette; daughter, Kerri (Mark) Baker of Sioux City, Iowa; step-daughter, Kayla (Andrew) Hinders of Clark, South Dakota; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Ethel Bacca of Silverdale, Washington; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry Robinson, Jean (John) Wynia, Gerald (Bertha) Van Den Top, Geri (Robert) Blankespoor, Hester (Wesley) De Groot, Deb (Ron) Hoksbergen, and Sandy Alsum; and 2 nephews.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Wilmina; first wife, Judy; brother, Charlie Graves; sister, Janna Hoffman; parents-in-law, Ted (Florence) Hamann and Albert (Rika) Van Den Top; brother-in-law, Duane (Marlene) Aslum; and sister-in-law, Susan Robinson.