Robert E. Graue

LINCOLN - Robert E. "Bob" Graue, 79, of Lincoln passed away May 15, 2009, at home with his family.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2009, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln, with Father Thomas Taylor officiating. Inurnment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2009, at Holland Barry and Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln.

Robert was born February 25, 1930, in Lincoln, to the late Walter and Gertrude (Lee) Graue. He was educated at Sugar Grove and Elkhart grade schools, Lincoln Community High School, and St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He proudly served his country as a United States Marine in the Korean War.

On May 7, 1955, he married Joan Georgi in Lincoln.

Mr. Graue was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln, where he served as Trustee and Eucharistic Minister. He was president of Graue Inc. in Lincoln.

He was very active in the community, serving as president of the Lincoln-Logan County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Chamber Tourism Committee, president and charter member of the Lincoln Jaycees, president of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, member of the Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree, member of the American Legion, the Lincoln Elks Club, Lincoln Rotary Club, and was a ten gallon contributor to the Red Cross Blood Bank. He served as a member of the Logan County Cooperative Extension Executive Council and achieved designation as Master Gardner.

He managed to devote himself completely to all of these organizations, resulting in his being named a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International in April of 1989, Rotarian of the Year in 2006, was recognized as the Lincoln Courier Citizen of the Year in 1991, and the Lincoln Jaycees Citizen of the Year in 1992. He also received the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1978.

While being devoted to his church, his business, and his community, Bob Graue was first and foremost devoted to his family.

Surviving are his wife Joan (Georgi) Graue of Lincoln; daughter M. Elizabeth Graue (Clark Landis) of Madison, WI; son Mark E. (Bobbette) Graue of Lincoln, IL; daughter Barbara A. (Brad) Nikles of Lincoln, IL; son Steven R. Graue (Annie V. Picard) of Chicago, IL; son Christopher J. (Phyllis) Graue of Lincoln, IL; and eight grandchildren: Ethan, Olivia and Jackson Graue, Derek and Patrick Graue, Kate Nikles, and Sam and Max Graue-Landis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Thomas J. Graue, and his brother Darrell Graue.

Memorial donations may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, or to the Humane Society of Logan County and will be accepted at the funeral home.