Kenneth J. Gravley

Kenneth J. Gravley, 99 of New London, died Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at GlenOaks Care Center in New London.  Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at Peace Lutheran Church in New London. Visitation will be from 5-7 Tuesday at the church and for one hour prior to the service at church.  Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in New London.  Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in New London.  

Kenneth John Gravley was born on February 13, 1920, in Lake Wilson, the first child of Julius and Ida (Jacobson) Gravley.  He was baptized at Ellsborough Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson and confirmed at the Mission Covenant Church in New London in 1934. He grew up on a farm near New London and attended country grade school in District # 10.  He continued his education in various schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. On January 8, 1942, Ken entered the U.S. Army where he served his country during WWII in the South Pacific and was in Okinawa at the end of the war.  He was honorably discharged in 1945.

On June 23, 1951, Kenneth was united in marriage to Dorcas Cottle. They were blessed with a son and daughter.  They made their home in New London where he was a partner in the Big Store, where he established the meat department.  He also owned and operated the Fairway Store for a number of years.  In 1963, he began work as a park ranger at Sibley State Park.  He later became assistant manager at Sibley until his retirement in 1983. Ken and Dorcas were able to share in 67 years of marriage before her death on November 8, 2018.  

Kenneth was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church where he served on Church Council, Lebanon Cemetery Board, Properties Committee and as an usher.  He also served on the Sibley Park Improvement Association, New London Commercial Club, Izaak Walton League and was a 70-year member of the New London American Legion.                                                                     

He is survived by son, Jay (Beth) Gravley and daughter, Jane (Dan) Morrison; grandchildren, Elyse (Eric) Hagen, Joshua (Kimmy) Gravley, Jason Gravley, Chris (Abby) Morrison, Ben Morrison, David Morrison, and Sam (Taylor) Morrison; great-grandchildren: Broc, Cayden, Emersyn, Jett, Channing, Porsha, Caillat, PaisLee, EllaRae and AnnaBelle; siblings, Wilbert Gravley, Gordon Gravley, Ilo Palmquist, Adeline Lohn, Roger Gravley, and Gloria Woodward; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorcas; parents and grandson, Mitchell Morrison                                                                               

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