David Lee Graham

Rev. David Lee Graham 1940-2012 The Rev. David Lee Graham, 71, of Kankakee, passed away Feb. 27, 2012, at 11:03 p.m., at Provena St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, with his family by his side. David was born April 19, 1940, in Long Point, to Alva and Ruth (Powell) Graham. He was a 1958 graduate of Woodland High School, Streator. He graduated in 1964 from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1970, David graduated from Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He served the Illinois United Methodist parishes of Long Point, Nigh Chapel, Smithfield-Ipava, Osman-Walker, Gifford, Martinsville, Broadlands and Longview. In addition to the Methodist churches, he served Good Shepherd Community Church in Des Plaines. While in Des Plaines, he served on the school board for Maine East High School. After retiring from the ministry, David taught at Good Shepherd Manor in Momence, and took employment at Crop Services in Watseka and Kmart Corporation in Manteno. The Rev. Graham was a loving father to his four children, Rebecca (Terry) Simpson, of Streator, Lee Ann (Scott) Leonard, of Colonial Heights, Va., Stephanie (Troy) Durdan, of Streator, and Michael David (Kimberlee) Graham, of Gainesville, Ga. He was a devoted grandfather to Tara Simpson, of Ocala, Fla., J. Randy Simpson, of Streator, Zachary Oldenburg, of Chicago, Taylor Jo Oldenburg, of Streator, Joshua Leonard, of Colonial Heights, and Matthew David Oldenburg, of Streator. In addition to his family, he is also survived by his ex-wife, Annette (Mainor) Liptak, of Blackstone, who is the mother of his children; his sister, Anita Lorraine Metzke, of Long Point; his brother, James Sherman, of Salem, Ind.; many nieces and nephews; and close friends, Susan Langdoc and Bernice Britton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son; his brothers, Robert Sherman and Jack Graham Sr.; and nephew, Robert Graham. Cremation rites have been accorded by the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, with a private family service to be held at a later date. Interment will be at Emery Green Cemetery, rural Streator In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Memorials may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.- www.cff.org/

David Lee Graham

April 19, 1940 - February 27, 2012