Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Graffis, Don W. 2004
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 4, 2010, 8:42 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard, 16 Nov 2004

Don W. Graffis, aged 76, of Ionia passed away peacefully at home Nov. 13, 2004 
after a long struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.  He was born 
February 17, 1928 in Royal Center, Ind. the son of Warren and Blanche (Daily) 
Graffis.

He played basketball and baseball at Star City High School where he graduated 
in 1946.  He received BS and MS degrees from Purdue University and his Ph.D. in 
Agronomy from the University of Illinois in 1960.  He served in the US Army 
from 1950-1952.  Don taught at Union Mills High School and was extension 
agronomist at Rutgers, Ohio State and retired from the University of Illinois 
in 1997 after 31 years of service as a specialist in hay and pasture crops.

Don married Nancy Newman in 1956.  Together they raised five children, and 
lived most of their married life in Urbana, Illinois until moving to Ionia in 
1998.  Don enjoyed fishing, golfing and gardening.  He was an elder and taught 
Sunday School, a Stephen Minister and trustee at First Presbyterian Church in 
Urbana, Illinois.  He was also a member of Lyons-Muir Federated Church.

He is survived by his wife Nancy of Ionia.  Children Gwen and Jim Botting of 
Ionia, Dale and Michele Graffis of Bethlehem, Penn., Col. Judy and Jim Chizek 
of Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany; seven grandchildren Greg and Krista 
Botting, Derek and Andrew Graffis, Samuel, Jacob and Iva Marie Chizek, Brother 
Wayne and Gloria Graffis of LaPorta, Ind.; sister Lois and Dan Remley of 
Logansport, Ind.; several nieces and nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in 
death by his parents, two children Dean and Joy, and one granddaughter Rebecca 
Botting.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Lyons-Muir Church with 
Rev. Kathy Clark officiating.  Interment and Committal Services will be held at 
the Kistler Cemetery in Royal Center, Ind. on Tuesday at 1 p.m.   Visitation 
will be on Monday at the church from 12:30 until time of the service.

Anyone wishing may make memorial contributions to PSP Society, Lyons-Muir Bell 
Tower Fund or Hospice of West Michigan.  Arrangements by Lake Funeral Home in 
Ionia.


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