Dennis Keith Grafel

Dennis Grafel, 70, of McCook, died Sunday (Aug. 29, 2021), in rural Hitchcock County, Neb., from injuries sustained in a work accident. He was born in McCook, Neb., July 31, 1951, to Raymond and Barbara (Dack) Grafel. Dennis attended and graduated from Herndon High School in 1969. He continued his education at Nebraska College-Technical Ag, where he graduated with an associates degree in Production Agriculture. Dennis married his best friend, Donna Lynne Chapman on July 24, 1976 at the United Church of Christ in Herndon, KS. The couple was united in marriage by the brides father Reverend Loren Chapman. The couple settled in Hays, KS before moving to Smith Center, KS where Dennis farmed for seven years. They moved back to McCook in 1989, where they have lived until present. Dennis was a lifelong farmer. He was also a truck driver and drove hazmat and for the oil field. He helped his brother-in-law off and on as a welder. He was a rural mail carrier for nine years before going back to trucking, hauling ethanol corn mash. He retired from trucking to be a full-time farmer. He was an active member of the Culbertson Ambulance Squad, Culbertson Fire Department, and the McCook Fire and Rescue. He was also the secretary- treasurer for the Frenchman Valley Mutual Aid fire department for several years. He loved spending time outdoors golfing, fishing, camping, and spending weekends at the farm with family where they did shooting-sports and had bonfires. He and Donna loved listening to music and enjoying early morning chats on the patio drinking coffee. Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Grafel and his father-in-law, Loren Chapman. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his mother, Barbara Grafel; his children, Douglas (Stephanie) Grafel of Broken Bow, Jessica (Josh) Vrbas of McCook, Chris (Roisin) Grafel of Fairford England, and Randall Grafel of McCook; mother-in-law, Verona Chapman, sister, Roma (Richard) Sensel of Culbertson; brother-in-law, Tom Chapman of Smith Center, KS, sister-in-Law Gwenne (Paul) Cash of Enid, OK; grandchildren: Savanna Baum, Cameron Grafel, Sabrina Vrbas, Hayden Grafel, Grace Vrbas, Emilia, Aisling, and James Grafel; foreign exchange daughters, Pernilla Scharer, and Hannah Wise, both of Switzerland. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 3, 2021 at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook, Neb. with Pastor Jeff Kelley officiating. No viewing or visitation; cremation was chosen and a private family scattering will take place at a later date. There will be time for friends and family to gather after the service to share stories and memories of Dennis. Memorials can be given to the family for future designation. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.