Rosa Kohler Graham

Rosa Kohler Graham of Arvada, Colorado, died at the age of 91 on July 10, 2025. She was born in Erlangen, Germany to Frieda and Karl Kohler in 1934. She met James Buren (J.B.) Graham, a Sergeant in the Army, while he was stationed in Germany. They married in 1955 and moved around every few years with the Army, having six children at six different bases, until his retirement in 1968 in Texas. They eventually moved and settled in Arvada in 1974 where she lived surrounded by family until she died.

She was predeceased by her parents, brothers Oswald, Hermann, Manfred and sisters Anni, Maria, and Erika, and her husband, J.B. She is survived by her 6 children and their spouses, Ann (Dave), Barbara, Thomas, James (Cathie Rae), Rosa, and Katharina (Gary). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Kathy, Chris, Corina, Johnny, Klint, David Michael, Shjon, Lukas, Abigail, and Garrett, as well as 7 great-grandchildren. She was also survived by her brother Adolf and many friends.

Rosa lived a full life and was well-loved. She worked numerous jobs to help supplement a Sergeant’s pay for a large family. In Arvada, she began working as an award-winning Station Manager at the corner Sinclair gas station, where she became widely known as “Sinclair Rosa” to her many faithful customers who missed her when she retired in 2001.

She was a lifelong Lutheran and regularly attended King of Glory where she loved singing in the choir for many years. She was an avid bowler, often competed in tournaments, and frequently joked about being buried with her bowling ball. When asked what she was up to, she often answered, “Just holding the furniture down.”

She was full of energy and joy and made friends with everyone she met. Rosa was incredibly witty, and loved to laugh and share a joke. She was loved by all.

Funeral services will take place on July 19, 2025 at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 10001 West 58th Avenue, Arvada, CO. There will be a viewing at 10:00-10:55 a.m. in the sanctuary, followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. There will be a light reception, at the church, to follow. The burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 12801 West 44th Avenue, Arvada, CO at 1:30 p.m.

The family gratefully acknowledges your many kind expressions of sympathy shown during their time of loss. They request if you wish to make a memorial gift you may consider King of Glory Lutheran Church at kog–arvada.org.

For those unable to attend in person, there will be a live streaming option