Jack Lewis Graber Sr

February 8, 1932 - April 24, 2015

Jack Lewis Graber, Sr of Sioux City, Iowa formerly of Wichita, Manhattan and Pratt, Kansas died on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center with his family at his side. Jack was a social person and spent every minute of his 83 years being involved with his family, friends and avocations. Born February 8, 1932 in Wilmore, Kansas to Albert Benjamin Graber and Ruth Sophia Rall Graber, Jack was the first of three boys in the family including brothers Bill Graber of Henderson NV and Jerry Graber (deceased). On April 19, 1954 he married Mildred Faith Monger. Together they had three children – Donald Lynn (Jean), Ann Marie Fick (Brian) and Jack Lewis Jr (Laura). Mildred preceded him in death on July 22, 1986. On February 13, 1987 he married Beverly Ann Smith Miller in Wichita, Kansas. They combined their families together and became grandparents to Daniel (Caitlin), Jennifer (Atanas), Michelle (Shaun), Kristine (Samuel), Kyle, Joshua, Megan, Noah, and Hannah and one great grandchild, Evelynn. Jack has many family members still among the living including his Wife of 28 years; children Donald, Ronald, Ann, Tonya and Jack; brother Bill, 9 grandchildren 1 great grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack graduated from Pratt High School and enlisted in the Air Force. He was an Honor Graduate jet mechanic and instructor prior to being accepted into the class of 1954 of Aviation Cadets where he was an honor graduate at Primary Flying School. He spent 24 years in the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot. Flying was his passion and Jack frequently said he was paid to have fun. He logged more than 12,000 hours flying airplanes ranging from a 70 mph Piper J3 to the supersonic F-105. He flew over 50 types of aircraft in his life as a pilot. His favorite aircraft was the F-104 Starfighter. After his career in the Air Force, Jack completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. After becoming the first of many college graduates in his family, he returned to flying: as a Pilot for Royal Airlines, as Chief Pilot for Kansas Farm Bureau, as pilot with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and as Instructor with the Lear Center at Flight Safety International. Jack flew two tours of combat in Vietnam. He earned numerous medals, ribbons and honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic rescue coverage in Southeast Asia and the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters. Jack volunteered his time to many organizations such as the Presbyterian Church as a member of the Session, Kiwanis as a member and officer and Boy Scouts as Assistant Scoutmaster or Cub-master. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa. He was also a life member of the Order of Daedalians, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. In lieu of flowers, Jack requested that memorials be sent to the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association Scholarship Fund or a Charity of your choice. If you choose to give to the Scholarship fund, you can go to their website http://www.river-rats.org/donations.html or send to RRVA Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1553, Front Royal, VA 22630-0033. Memorial Services will be held in Pratt, Kansas at the Larrison Mortuary on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 2 pm and at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan, Kansas on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 1 pm, Inurnment will be at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery following the Memorial service in Manhattan.