Kevin William Graves

Kevin “Unkl” William Graves, whose Ojibwe name is Mizh Kogishig, which means “Red Day,” 33, of Bemidji, died Saturday, June 25, 2011, at his home as a result of many health complications from a car accident in 2009 that left him paralyzed.

Traditional funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Red Lake Center. A wake will begin at 1 p.m. today, June 26, at the Red Lake Center and will continue until the time of service. Burial will be at the Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

Honorary pallbearers will be Zachariah McDermott, Nicole Hardies, Tasha Martell, Cory Martell, Jim Gildersleve, Lisa Erle Dawn Bedeau, Kathy Fischer, Jessica Erle and other friends and family.

Pallbearers will be Curtis Smith, Christopher Erle, Russell Erle, Jr., Brandon Erle, Jason Maruska and Raliegh Kleeb.

He was born Dec. 22, 1977, to Walter Graves Sr. and Helma Cloud Erle in Bemidji. He went to school in Ponemah and Bemidji. He worked with Youthbuild and then at several casinos; Northern Lights, Mystic Lake, Red Lake and Thief River Falls and also at the Juvenile Center. He married Monica Marie Gonzales Oct. 31, 2008 in Bemidji. He loved to draw, play golf and video games, watch Vikings football, but mostly he enjoyed every moment with his family.

He is survived by his wife of Bemidji; son, Mason Graves of Bemidji; daughter, Chelsie Gonzales-Olson of Bemidji; brothers, Russell (Melanie) Erle, Sr. of Onamia, Minn., Robert (Jonikka Kleeb) Erle of Bemidji, Walter Graves Jr. of Minneapolis and C.J. “Bro” White of Bemidji; and sisters, Margaret (Brett) Nordquist of Bemidji, Naomi (Joel Roy) Erle of Thief River Falls and Carmen Green of Minneapolis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Gloreen Cabrera; brother, Gregory Graves; and a nephew.

Messages of condolence may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.