Willis Graber 1918 - 2004

GRABER, RICH, WATTS, PAULSEN, WYSE, ROTH, SWARTZENDRUBER, FREDERICK

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 5/16/2006 at 12:46:20

Willis Graber, 85, of Wayland, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at Henry County Health Center.

Born Dec. 2, 1918, in Henry County, he was the son of Joseph and Barbara Rich Graber. On May 23, 1943, he married Marjorie Watts.

Mr. Graber farmed for many years near Wayland.

He received his schooling at the rural Douglas Elementary School and later attended Wayland High School. He lived in the Wayland area for all of his married life. He was a lifelong member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher, a trustee and also was a member of the Loyal Companions Sunday school class. He enjoyed traveling and volunteered at summer camps in Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania. He and his wife hosted several exchange visitors in their home and also fostered several children. He spoke fluent German and enjoyed the dialog with many visitors who spoke that language.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Larry Graber of Wayland and Wendell Graber of Story City; one foster daughter, Vickie Paulsen of Eldridge; eight grandchildren; one brother, Raymond Graber of Mount Pleasant; five sisters, Rachel Wyse, Berniece Roth and Beulah Mae Swartzendruber, all of Wayland, and Lois Swartzendruber and Sara Lu Frederick, both of Wellman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one infant son, one daughter, one sister and two brothers.

Visitation will be at noon on Thursday at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Graber will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, with Pastor Robert Hartzler and Roger Farmer officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Creek Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for Sugar Creek Mennonite Church.

Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant is in charge of arrangements.