Erna Graden

Erna Emma Graden, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005, at her home.

She was born May 13, 1912, in Egypt Mills, daughter of Herman and Josephine Fornkohl Zierath. She and Robert Graden were married April 12, 1946, in Benton, Mo. He died April 2, 1978.

Mrs. Graden was a member of Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was a lifetime resident of the Egypt Mills community. Years ago she worked at International Shoe Co. and Ely Walker Co. She was also a farmer and worked the farm that was in the family for 100 years.

Survivors include a daughter, Donna (Russell) Lewis of Cape Girardeau; two stepdaughters, Della Stoops of Scott City, Vernell (Willie) Rodenberry of Cape Girardeau; nine grandchildren, Emily Dean, Jenny Farrow, Robert Lewis, Rodger Snell, Gary Snell, David Snell, Joann Hosea, Karen Nabe and Cheryl Nabe; 12 stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several great-stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, James Nabe; a daughter, Helen Snell; a stepdaughter, Mabel Erlbacher; 10 brothers and sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Richard Tragasz officiating. Burial will be in Thompson Cemetery at Egypt Mills.

Memorials may be made to Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church Parsonage Fund.