Dear Diana and Family,
With deep saddness when I heard of your loss.  Bill was one of those rare persons.  He was my hero.  He endured much and fought on.  He did not complain and still kept his great humor.  I enjoyed working with him for 30 plus years and was always there to help when the fires started and then when the paperwork got over my head.  Bill will be missed.  CK Morey

Diane, I never had the pleasure of meeting Bill or you.  I knew his mother and grandmother Elsie.  My husband was Elsie's sister Anna's grandson.
I lost my husband 12 years ago and I know what you are going through.  You and your entire family have my deepest sympathies.

Dear Diane - 
We add our heartfelt condolences and prayers for your loss to the tributes in these pages.  We know you will draw strength and love from many beautiful memories of your life together.

Diane,
Roger and I heard about your husband and want to offer any support we can.  My Mom just passed away March 11 and it has been the hardest just these past couple of weeks.  So, if you find yourself needing some company...ever...give me a call at 222-7883 and I'll be there.
With Sympathy,
Mary Dougal and Roger Smith

Dear Diane,
I was so sorry to hear about Bill. Please accept my sympathy and support.  Hope to see you soon to give you a personal hug.
Margie

Diane and Family,
I am saddened to hear of your loss.  Bill was a very special person.
I have many fond memories of Bill from the 20 some years we worked together.  Prescribed fires, wildfires, fire acadamies, and fishing were all more enjoyable with Bill and his sense of humor.
When I think of Bill; the words honesty, integrety, commitment, character and courage come to mind.  He will be missed.

We're very sad to hear of Bill's passing.  We first met Bill when we had the pleasure of coaching Keith in soccer, and later when he shared his immense knowledge and passion for outdoor activities through Cub Scouts.  He was truly ""one of a kind"", and it was our pleasure to know him.  We hope that many terrific memories comfort and console you.
With Our Deepest Sympathies,
Kevin and Jane Lynch

Dear Diane,
Mary and I were so sorry to hear of Bill's passing and also so thankful that we had the opportunity to know both of you.  We wish you peace in this difficult time.  Love, Todd and Mary

Diane,
We are thinking of you during this trying time.  We both wanted to see you at the memorial this morning; however, we are both suffering from the flu.  We will get in touch after we recover.
Love, Ron & Wendy

Diane and family,
I was going thru some papers at home this past weekend and ran across Bill's retirement annoucement - the photo of the fisherman in the dawn with fire on the other side of the river.  He's fishing now and I can see his smile.  My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Diane and family:
While I only met Bill through my research into the history of what happened to his great great grandmother, Susanna Alderdice, I hold dear the honor of being able to take Bill and his brother Hank to the famous battle site where Susanna was killed in 1869, and then again back there to dedicate the memorial marker honoring her in 2004.
I hold dear and treasure every memory I have with Bill. I will miss him but hold dear the knowledge that the man I met was a sincere and great man. I will be at his funeral Tuesday, to honor his life.

Dear Diane, 
I was so sorry to hear about Bill.  He always had such a great upbeat attitude and a wonderful quirky sense of humor.

Diane,
I was sorry to hear of Bill's passing and your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I worked with Bill for 20 years, and I will always remember his smiles and zest for life. He will not be forgoten, his memories will always be with us.
God bless 
Becky

Dear Graeplers,
I am so sorry for your loss and yet so thankful for the wonderful memories I have of Bill.  I can remember him at Cub Scout meetings, and soccer and tee-ball games as a kid, and then at rugby games as we got a bit older.  I have numerous fond memories of camping trips and other outings, not to mention family get togethers.  Bill was certainly a positive influence in my life as he was in many others.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sincerely,
Lincoln

Diane, I was so sorry to hear about Bill and just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Diane, 
Thinking of you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 
Shannon

Diane and family,
Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers.  I had the pleasure of knowing Bill for 10 years through work at the CSFS and will miss him.
Bill taught me the finer points of fire business managment during the 2002 fire season and was always willing to help out.  He was always supportive of the folks in the field, which made our jobs easier.
One of the things I will miss most about Bill is seeing his eyes light up and a huge smile on this face when I would ask him about fishing in Canada.  No matter how much stuff was going on at work or with his health he would always light up when describing his latest fishing adventure.
He showed so much courage over the years and was truly an inspiration to us all.

Diane,
Bob and I wish to extend our sympathy to you and your family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you on the loss of your husband and friend.
Sincerely,
Bob and Barbara

Dear Diane,
It was with a great sense of loss that I saw Bill's name today as I was reading the newspaper. We go back a ways and I remember fondly working with you as you planned your wedding. What joy and excitement! We extend our deepest sympathy and friendship. God bless.
Love, Les and Joan

Dear Diane
Our deepest sympathies to you and all of Bill's family.  Bill was truly one of the worlds best and most likeable persons.
When Bill first told us that he had cancer he said that a person must play the cards that life deals him.  Bill played his cards well, with dignity and courage.  He was a great guy and after more than 40 years of friendship he will be truly missed.  Our summer fishing trips won't be the same without Bill to land the big ones.
Our thoughts are with you Diane.  Lets just be thankful for the time we did have with Bill.
Sincerely,
Ron Newman and Thelma Campbell

Diane and family,
We were saddened to see Bill's name in yesterday's paper.  We had not realized he was still battling the cancer.  Always a special person in my work with CSFS.  When I hired him in 1975, he stood out as with his great energy and focus on his work.. a good team member with expertise that I could depend on.  Bill was consistently thorough, willing to take on new tasks and stayed with it until it was done.  A real ""self starter"" in the truest sense of the word.  I considered him a valued colleague and friend.
Know that you and your family are in our prayers that you find comfort at this difficult time. 
With our love to you,
Ron and Tara Zeleny

Why do I love what I do, because it meant meeting Bill and his wife Diane.  Bill was a wonderful man, full of life and love.  He was always smiling and joking, even throught the hard times.  He has made a big impact on my life, he was more than just a patient to us at CCR, he was a friend. We will miss his deeply and I know I will never forget his smiling face and the happines he brought to the people around him.  To Diane and his family...I am sorry for you loss and my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.  Love, Jen (CCR nurse)

Dear Graepler Family:
I am so sorry for your loss.
I worked with Bill several years. He was always friendly and I always enjoyed visiting with him. I was able to go fishing with him once as we floated a few miles of the Gunnison River. It is a memory I like to look back on.
I hope you find comfort in pleasant memories and the company of family and friends.
Joel Stewart

Diane, I was sorry to hear of Bill's passing and your loss.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  Bill was a wonderful person, husband, father, brother and son and he will be sorely missed.
God bless and keep you all in his loving arms.
Angelina

Diane...
Bill will always be special to me.  Back in our forestry student days at Northern Arizona University, I could tell that Bill was going to be one of the few that toughed-it-out and realized his goal of becoming a professional forester. His strength of character was obvious. 
Over the intervening decades I would cross paths with Bill, usually in some remote fire camp.  Stories (...some true) would be exchanged and notes compared.
...Then there was this last decade, when Bill, Ron Newman and I would jabber over the internet and (thanks to Ron and his patient wife) got to become fishing buddies up on those clear Kamloops lakes Bill so loved.
Bill showed the same strength of character I saw way back at NAU when his health tested him.  He rolled with the punches and focused on how lucky he was to have realized his life goals and, especially, to be married to you. 
Sincerely...Pat Harrison

Dear Diane & Family-
Although our acquaintance has been limited to emails regarding the PB club, I was deeply saddened to recognize your family name in the obituaries today.  Even more so when I realized you had lost your husband/father.  You will all be me in my familyâ???Ts thoughts and prayers.
With Our Heartfelt Sympathy-
Mike and Tammy Sutton

OBITUARY

William Eugene Graepler

September 15, 1947 – April 15, 2008

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services