Nelson W. Mcgraw

Nelson W. McGraw passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family May 30, 2015 at McKee Medical Center Hospice Unit.

Nelson was born January 12, 1924 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Virgil and Mayme (Willis) McGraw. He was raised on a farm near the small town of Mt. Carmel, Ohio, S.E. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Nelson graduated in 1942 from Batavia High School in Batavia, Ohio. Shorty after graduation, Nelson met the love of his life, Lovena Grumley at a Sunday school picnic. They were married November 14, 1942, and enjoyed over 72 years of marriage together.

Nelson entered military service in early 1943, and proudly served in the US Army Air Corps, now known as the United States Air Force. Nelson served as a crew member of a B-17. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1946, Nelson then moved to Fort Collins with his wife Lovena.

Nelson worked at the US Post Office in Fort Collins from 1947 to 1973. Nelson began his distinguished postal career as a substitute clerk; held numerous supervisory positions before being named postmaster of the Fort Collins office. After receiving a promotion, he and Lovena moved to Golden for him to continue serving as the Post Master and Sectional Center Manager in Golden, Colorado. Nelson was promoted again, to serve as post master of Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as Sectional Center Manager before retiring from the US Postal Service in 1979.

After his retirement, Nelson and Lovena were able to make his dream of having a horse ranch come true on a 35 acre ranch near Larkspur, Colorado. They built a house, a horse barn, and machine shed, and made several improvements on the property, which they loved dearly. They enjoyed raising horses and cattle on this ranch and treasured many years of happiness there together with their family. Nelson and Lovena were able to live on their ranch until failing health forced them to move back to Fort Collins in May of this year to be nearer to family.

Nelson was a man of varied interests: reading, genealogy, American history, photography, woodworking, animal husbandry, and general construction projects just to mention a few of many.

Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Mayme McGraw, and a brother, Donald C. McGraw.

Nelson is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Lovena; two sons, Gary (Sue) McGraw of Fraser, Colorado, Paul (Becky) of Ft Collins, and a daughter, Sandra (Dan) Stricklin of Fraser, Colorado. Nelson is survived by 10 grandchildren, Erika (Mark) Schwankel of Fraser, CO, Erin (Patrick) Taylor, of Castlerock CO, Ethan (Sara) McGraw of Holland, Michigan, and Emily (Mike) Thompson of Fraser, CO, Melissa (Sean) Grogan of Windsor, CO, Megan (Buck) Knowlton of Loveland, CO Allison McGraw of Fort Collins, CO Jennifer (Zak) Gilbert of Cleveland, Ohio, Michael (Kristin) Stricklin of Ogden, Utah, Molly (Dan) Kennedy of Kansas City Kansas. Nelson is survived by 9 great grandchildren, Connor and Katy Grogan of Windsor, CO, Camden and Aubrey Knowlton of Loveland, CO; Ashlynn, Braden and Caitie Gilbert of Cleveland Ohio and Madeline and Gracie Kennedy of Kansas City KS. Nelson is also survived by his sister, Ruth Johnson of Lakewood, CO, brother -in-law, Carlos Grumley of Belleville IL and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015 11:00 AM at the Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO followed by military honors from the Fort Collins All Veterans Honor Guard.