Charlene Graben, the only child of Charles H. and Gladys (Wood) Graben was born July 11, 1939 in Seward, Nebraska and died March 28, 2012. She was raised in Seward, Nebraska graduating from Seward High School in 1957. She attended Seward Concordia Teachers College and Nebraska Wesleyan University where she was a member of Willard Sorority. After moving to California she taught in several elementary and middle schools and continued her own education at UC Berkeley, and University of Laverne. She was a teacher, counselor, mentor, and friend to anyone who shared her passion for knowledge. Her love of travel was evident in her activities as well as her careers. As a young woman she was a flight attendant with United Air Lines and World Airlines but throughout her life she flew the air, sailed the oceans, rode the horses and climbed the mountains, touching lives and making friends of humans and animals all over the globe. Although she spent most of her adult life in California, she also held dear the ties to her roots, keeping close to friends and family in and from Nebraska. Water of any kind and the ocean in particular held a fascination for Charlene. She loved spending time in the waters near her home in San Pedro, California. She also sailed to Hawaii, snorkeled in Cayman, fished in Minnesota, ate the bounty of Puget Sound and she treasured aquatic life of all kind, volunteering for the Whale Watch program at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. She is survived by friends all over the world and the following family members: Cherie and Gary Northouse, Lincoln, Nebraska; Ken and Beverly Johnson, Frisco, Texas, Marcia Brox, Shawnee, Kansas, Susan Safarik, Lincoln, Nebraska, Jim Buchanan, Chandler, Arizona, Alberta Shirley, Leawood, Kansas. Her endless curiosity, generous spirit, and big smile will be missed by friends and family alike. Go somewhere today and do something adventuresome knowing that Charlene is with you. There will be a Celebration of Life on April 15, 2012 at 12:30 PDT at Unity Spiritual Center of South Bay, 2545 237th Street, Torrance, California. Additional services will be held in Washington State and Seward, Nebraska at a later date.