Nancy Marie Graf

GRAF, RUTKOWSKI, LIJEWSKI

Posted By: Harvey Henry (email)
Date: 4/11/2009 at 09:49:12

Nancy Marie Graf

Born: January 30, 1948
Died: December 07, 2008
Services:Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10 am, December 12, 2008 at St. Thomas More Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Visitation:Friends may call from 3 to 8pm Thursday at the Church, where a Parish Vigil Service will be held at 7:30pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Nancy Graf Memorial Fund and sent to 1123 Harlocke Street, Iowa City, IA 52246
Nancy Marie Graf, 60, of Iowa City died Sunday, December 7, 2008 from injuries received in an automobile accident in Winneshiek County.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10am, December 12, 2008 at St. Thomas More Church with Rev. Walter Helms officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8pm Thursday at St. Thomas More Church, where a Parish Vigil Service will be held at 7:30pm. Parking will be permitted on the east side of North Riverside Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Nancy Graf Memorial Fund and sent to 1123 Harlocke Street, Iowa City, IA 52246.

Nancy was born January 30, 1948, in St. Paul, MN, the daughter of Louis and Bernice
(née Rutkowski) Lijewski. She was a graduate of St. Agnes High School in St. Paul and received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. At the time of her death, Nancy was finishing her master’s degree in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI. Nancy married Bill Graf on January 31, 1970 at St.Casimir Catholic Church in St. Paul, MN.

Nancy was a researcher at the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice at the University of Iowa School of Social Work.

Nancy and Bill and their family moved to Iowa City in 1975 where they have been longtime members of St. Thomas More Church. Nancy cherished her involvement
at the Church. She served as a lector, chairperson of the Evangelization and Stewardship Committee, coordinator for the Knitting Committee and for Baptism Preparation,
member of the RCIA team and the Church Life/ Family Life Committee. Nancy was a past member of the Regina School Board. Nancy was known for her organizational and research skills, and her ability to learn new things. Most of all Nancy loved the time spent with her family and friends.

‘Cile, my loving wife, you are the love of my life, my best friend, and I pray to understand why God took you from me.
We love you so much, Mom. You are such a great hugger, listener, pray-er, woman of faith, shoulder to lean or cry on, learner, voice of reason, servant, caretaker, organizer, proofreader, lover of beauty. We will carry you with us always.

Nancy is survived by her husband Bill and their four children and two grandchildren,
James Graf of Stephensville, TX, Daniel (Cherrianne) Graf of Kapolei, Oahu, HI and their children Tamatane and Tristan, Joseph Graf and Kathleen Graf, both of Iowa City;
her mother, Bernice of St. Paul, MN; three sisters, Carol Bongers (Jim Weiss) of Westlake, OH, Patricia (Bob) Tschumper of Hokah, MN, Diane (Greg) Ling of Shoreview, MN; her brothers-in-law Robert (Pat) Graf of Milwaukee, Tom (Michelle) Graf of Littleton, CO, and Gene Rooney of Houston, TX; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Nancy was preceded in death by her father, Louis Lijewksi, and her sister-in-law, Carol Rooney.