Vance M. Robrahn

Mr. Robrahn died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at his home.

He was born Dec. 24, 1925, in Gridley, the son of G. H. and Nellie (Maclaskey) Robrahn. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1943.

Mr. Robrahn served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946. He worked at a grocery store and a lumber yard in Burlington until 1960, when he moved to Kansas City, Kan. He was a district clerk for the Kansas Highway Department until 1968, when he moved to Ottawa and worked in the U.S. National Guard 127th Field Artillery Battalion until 1974. He was a firefighter and later a police officer in Ottawa until he retired in 1988. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ottawa, Masonic Blue Lodge No. 66 in Burlington, Elks Lodge No. 803 in Ottawa and American Legion Post No. 38 in Burlington.

Mr. Robrahn married Virginia L. Harvey on Feb. 14, 1947, in Burlington. She died Oct. 1, 2002. An infant son, Vance Max II, died June 18, 1955.

Survivors include two daughters, Vanessa J. Palmer, Kincaid, and Vauncele J. Pearson, Lecompton; three brothers, Reese, Waynesboro, Va., Edward, Andover, and Forrest, Burlington; two sisters, Laverta Page, Texas, and Sandra Paxson, Burlington; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home in Ottawa.

The family suggests memorials to the Ottawa Police McGruff program, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa 66067.