Bill was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1923, the son of William H. Grafe and Mary Kroger Grafe. He was a World War II naval veteran, serving as an ensign in the Pacific theater. After the war, he returned to complete his studies at the University of Notre Dame, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering. After retiring as a pharmaceutical sales representative with Abbott Laboratories in 1987, he and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Grafe moved to south Florida. He began a second career as a residential real estate agent before finally retiring in 2005. He was a long-time member of St. Jude Catholic Church, and was blessed with many social, professional and Notre Dame Alumnae friends in Cincinnati and Florida.
His beloved wife Liz, and his stepson William Brodberger preceded him in death. Surviving him are his four children, William H. Grafe, III (Pamlia), Rosalind Conner, James Grafe (Connie) and Karl Grafe (Donna), his three grandchildren, Dylan Grafe, Tory Grafe and Phillip Wesseler, four step-children, John Brodberger, Elizabeth Wuebold (Robert), Stephen Brodberger (Theresa) and Margaret Hiatt (Harold) and seven step-grandchildren, Annasara Dusenbury, Robyn Arnett, John Brodberger IV, Jenny Wuebold, Mary Wuebold, Bobby Wuebold, and Grace Brodberger. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren as well as his dear canine companions, Lucky and Irish. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, September 30, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church, 204 U.S. Highway One, Tequesta, FL. Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center are assisting the family with arrangements.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18