Daniel Chris Graney

Born on May 16, 1949 in Norfolk, NE, Dan spent part of his childhood in foster care. At age 18 he was adopted by a Lutheran minister and his wife. Dan graduated from high school at St. John’s Academy, Winfield, KS in 1967. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree at Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN in 1971. That fall he enrolled in seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Dan met his first love Roberto Flores, a Franciscan priest, during his ministerial studies in Texas. In 1975 Dan received his M.Div. from Christ Seminary-Seminex and was ordained a pastor in the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

Accompanied by Roberto, Dan became an associate pastor in San Francisco's Mission District Hispanic community. They moved to Houston in 1977 to pursue ministerial services to immigrants and disaffected Missouri Synod Lutherans. Dan also worked as a paralegal to assist undocumented immigrants.

In 1979 Dan was elected bishop of the Texas Province of the Southwest Regional Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. When church officials learned Dan was gay and in a committed relationship, remaining as bishop was untenable and Dan resigned.

Dan entered the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He graduated in 1987 as class valedictorian. As a licensed attorney Dan practiced primarily immigration law. Dan and Roberto moved to San Antonio in 1992 to continue Dan's legal career.

Due to serious illnesses, Dan retired in 1993. He became involved in San Antonio's gay and lesbian community. He worked on various fundraising activities for the LGBT community. He also became a member of the Alamo City Men's Chorale.

Dan and Roberto celebrated 35 years together by legally marrying on October 15, 2009 in Vermont.

Dan and Roberto were co-founders of Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio (SDSA), an organization of LGBTQ+ Democrats and straight allies. Dan was elected president of the Stonewall Democratic Caucus at the 2008 Texas Democratic Party Convention. The following year, Roberto was elected Chair of the Bexar County Democratic Party.

Sadly, Roberto died of cancer in 2010.

In 2013, Community Alliance for a United San Antonio was organized to pass a non-discrimination ordinance (NDA). Dan and Dee Dee Belmares were co-chairs. With the leadership of council member Diego Bernal, the ordinance passed.

Dan met his beloved Rolando Jaimes Mesco from Peru in 2014. They were married in San Antonio by Judge Ron Rangel on June 9, 2017. In 2019, Dan was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease). Throughout Dan's battle with ALS, Rolando was his lovingly devoted principal caregiver.

Dan was preceded in death by his beloved first spouse, Roberto J. Flores; by his parents, both by birth and through adoption; by his youngest brother, Gary; and by his siblings through adoption, Carol, Connie, and Bret.

He is survived by his devoted spouse, Rolando Jaimes Mesco; by his brother, Gene (and Dolores) Graney; by his sister, Laura (and Mark) Trenthams; by his sister through adoption, Rochelle Sassmann; and by many nephews and nieces, grand nieces and nephews. Family and friends extend special thank you to Embrace Hospice, especially to David Hibbeler-Melton, R.N.

Visitation will be held at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, 78212 on July 23rd from 4 to 8 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life at Grace Lutheran Church, 504 Ave E, San Antonio, TX 78215 on July 24th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association or Reconciling Works.