Darren D. Graves

1967 - 2026

Darren D. Graves

September 4, 1967 - March 3, 2026

Darren D. Graves, 58, of Aurora, NE, gained his wings and packed his tackle box for one last fishing trip on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after a short battle with some health complications. He was surrounded with love by family and friends.

Memorial service and a celebration of Darren's life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15th, at All Faiths Funeral Home. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.

Darren was born September 4, 1967, in Aurora to DeWitt and Donna (Rudy) Graves. He graduated from Aurora High School with the class of 1986. He worked for his dad at Graves Concrete and Construction while attending high school. After graduating, Darren attended Hastings College, before he ultimately decided school wasn't for him. He returned to Graves Construction until he started with Iams Dog Food Company in Aurora in 1989, where he was still employed at the time of his death.

Early in life, Darren learned to work hard, play hard and to love hard. And that's exactly what he did. In 1989, he met the love of his life, Shannon. They were married on October 10, 1992, and their miracle baby completed their family when their daughter, Chey, was born on November 18, 2002.

As a lover of the outdoors, Darren was always outside whether that was hunting, fishing, or camping. He grew up hunting and fishing with his brother Chad and then when his forever hunting buddy was born, he had her out with him as soon as she could walk. As Chey got older he taught her how to shoot and when she joined the 4H shooting sports, he took on the role as an instructor for not only archery but for pistol and rifle as well. He even went as far as being a coach for the Nebraska small arms discipline at the 4H Nationals Competition. He was also a member of the Central City Gun Club and shot trap there for many years.

In 2020 Darren joined the Grand Island Elks Lodge #604 and along with that, joined the Elks Camping Club in which he looked forward to the camping trips every month during the summer. If you couldn't find Darren at home or at his camper during the warmer months of the year, there was a good chance you could find him with a fishing pole in his hand at a nearby pond or lake doing some line therapy.

Later in life he decided that he needed a second way to relieve stress. When the ponds and lakes were all frozen over during the winter months, you'd have no doubt he was somewhere with a pool table and a cue in his hand. The crack of a good break always helped whatever tension he had melt away.

Darren always had a way of lighting up any room he walked into; or making light of a dark situation with whatever smart remark popped into his head due to his quick wit.

Survivors include his wife, Shannon; daughter, Cheyanne; sisters, Deanna (Tim) Skrastins; and Dorinda (Brant) Fastnacht; brother, Chad (Julie) Fox; nieces, Abby (Josh) Schumacher, Hannah Skrastins, and Alyssa Fastnacht; nephew, William Fastnacht; goddaughters, Kamra Kissinger and Brittani Sudduth; his two fur babies, Ruger and Kase; and so many more extended friends and family.

Darren is preceded in death by his parents, DeWitt and Donna Graves, and father-in-law Kenneth F. Pfeifer.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be distributed later.