Howard Gravrock

Reverend Howard C. Gravrock, 87, Red Wing, died Sunday at Fairview Seminary Home. He was born August 21, 1919 in Everett, Washington, the son of Arnt and Karen Petrine (Wangberg) Gravrock. He graduated from Everett High School and then served in the U. S. Army Air Corps August 31, 1942-February 7, 1944. While he was stationed in Great Britain during World War II, he flew 33 missions over Germany. He married Doris Stolen on May 31, 1946 in Northfield. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Olaf College in 1949 and his Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul in 1952. He and Doris lived in many places as he served as Pastor for the ELCA at American Lutheran Church in Hardin, Montana; Immanuel and Zion Lutheran in Kiester, Minnesota; Christ Lutheran, which started as a home mission church, in West Sacramento, Calif.; Hope Lutheran in Minneota, Minn.; St. Luke?s Lutheran of Fullerton, Calif.; West Immanuel Lutheran of Osceola, Wis.; and Luther Memorial of South St. Paul, Minnesota. They moved to Red Wing in 1990. He was a member of United Lutheran Church in Red Wing. Survivors include his wife, Doris of Red Wing; one son, Rev. Mark P. Gravrock of Issaquah, Washington; one daughter, Sylvia J. Gravrock of Hudson, Wisconsin; five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Stephen; four brothers, an infant, Bernhard; Bernhard, Arthur and Walter; three sisters, Olga Anger, Lillian Thomas and Ruth Gravrock. Memorial service will be 1 p. m. Thursday at United Lutheran Church, Red Wing, with Reverend Randall Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Rebecca Willenbring, Stephen D. and Deborah Gravrock, Michael and Andrew Aarsvold. Memorials are preferred to United Lutheran Church or the United Lutheran Church Parish Nurse?s Funds. Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel is handling arrangements.