Myron "Mike" Graef, age 85, of West Bend, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2006 at the Samaritan Health Center in West Bend.
He was born June 8, 1921, in Rhinelander, to the late Harold and Ethel (Nee Pankratz) Graef.
Myron served his country during WWII by enlisting in the United States Navy. He held the rank of Chief Gunner's Mate on the USS Nicholson and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. During his time in the Navy he traveled around the world twice and saw many interesting countries along the way.
After WWII Mike began a career with Wisconsin Electric as a forester. He retired in the early 70's but kept busy by working for Prafke Electric, Siekert-Baum, Corporate Express, Eichline Enterprises, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Mayfield Nursery.
He was united in marriage to Dorothy Wise in 1995; they spent many happy years together in Milwaukee, and eventually moved to West Bend four years ago. Mike was an avid outdoor sportsman. He will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and a man of many tools who could fix any problem you had.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wise; his daughter, Jenny (Jeremy) Nelson; his stepsons, Greg (Michelle) Wise, Steve (Alice) Wise, and Dan (Elizabeth) Wise; two grandchildren, Jordan and Anika Wise. He is further survived by three brothers, Donald (Vivian) Graef, Lyle Graef, and Richard (Joyce) Graef; and two sisters, Lois (Stanley) Salyers, and Ethel Boppre. Myron was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 4th at 4:30 pm at Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 3:00 pm until 4:15 pm. Burial will be on Friday January 5th at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.
A memorial in Mike's name will be established at a later date.