William H Graham

William H. Graham, 85, passed away Friday, July 2nd in Zimmerman, Minnesota. He was born on September 29, 1924 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to William H. and Jeanette (Baker) Graham. He graduated from high school in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and enrolled at LaCrosse Teachers College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII and was stationed in England as a flight bombardier, flying missions in B-17 bombers. After the war, he returned to LaCrosse and finished college, graduating in the spring of 1949. On September 6, 1947 he married Carol Louise Austin in Lake City, Minnesota. They were later divorced. He began his 35-year teaching and administrative career in Tomah, Wisconsin in the fall of 1949. On June 26, 1964, he married JoAnne Moldenhauer Brennan in the Little Brown Church, Iowa. After retiring from the Tomah school system in 1984, Bill and JoAnne retired to their lake home in Pine River, Minnesota on Lake Ada. They wintered at Rock Shadows in Apache Junction, Arizona for 23 years. In August 2006, they moved to Lake City, Minnesota. In July 2008, they moved to Deer Crest in Red Wing, Minnesota. In October 2009 he moved to Zimmerman, Minnesota to live with his daughter, Susan and son-in-law, Scott Young until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne and his daughters, Susan (Scott) Young of Zimmerman, Patricia (Terry) Heimer of Lake City and Rebecca (Terry) Bement of North Mankato and son-in-law Calvin (Marcella) Johnson of Mankato, Minnesota. He is also survived by his brother, Charles (Elaine) Graham of St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
He is survived by grandchildren Christopher Oelkers, Bloomington, MN; Danielle (Tim) Hegge, Lake City, MN; Jaclyn (Zach) Norling, Minneapolis, MN; Kirk (Stacie) Thornton, Lake City, MN,; Michelle (Bill) McElmury, Lake City, MN; Jennifer (Ron) Galonsky, San Jose, CA; Matthew (Jennifer) Johnson, Chaska, MN; Kelly (Rob) Henery, Plymouth, MN; Callie Johnson, Edina, MN; and Glenna (Bob Reinhardt) Kozarek, St. Paul, MN, Brian (Jennifer) Bement of Superior, WI, Michael (Soo) Bement of Brooklyn, NY. He is survived by 15 great-grand children. He is also survived by one nephew, Steven Graham.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father and step-mother Ruby Graham. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Jane Brennan Johnson.
Our special thanks to Fairview Hospice for their wonderful care and attention.
The funeral will be on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lake City, Minnesota at 11:00 a.m with Reverend Merle Lebahn officiating. A visitation will be held at Mahn Funeral Home in Lake City on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m. and for one hour prior to the service at the church. A private interment will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Memorials are preferred to Fairview Home Care and Hospice, 2450 26th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406, Attn: HCHDO. Please notate William Graham for hospice care on your remittance.