William H. Graham, 85, passed away Friday, July 2, in Zimmerman, Minn.
He was born on Sept. 29, 1924, in La Crosse, Wis., to William H. and Jeanette (Baker) Graham. He graduated from high school in La Crosse and enrolled at La Crosse Teachers College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII and was stationed in England as a flight bombardier, flying missions in B-17 bombers. After the war, he returned to La Crosse and finished college, graduating in the spring of 1949. On Sept. 6, 1947, he married Carol Louise Austin in Lake City, Minn. They were later divorced. He began his 35-year teaching and administrative career in Tomah, Wis., 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, Minn., on Lake Ada. They wintered at Rock Shadows in Apache Junction, Ariz., for 23 years. In August 2006, they moved to Lake City. In July 2008, they moved to Deer Crest in Red Wing, Minn. In October 2009, he moved to Zimmerman 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, Minn. He is also survived by his brother, Charles (Elaine) Graham of St. Louis Park, Minn. He is survived by grandchildren, Christopher Oelkers, Bloomington, Minn., Danielle (Tim) Hegge, Lake City, Jaclyn (Zach) Norling, Minneapolis, Minn., Kirk (Stacie) Thornton, Lake City, Michelle (Bill) McElmury, Lake City, Jennifer (Ron) Galonsky, San Jose, Calif., Matthew (Jennifer) Johnson, Chaska, Minn., Kelly (Rob) Henery, Plymouth, Minn., Callie Johnson, Edina, Minn. and Glenna (Bob Reinhardt) Kozarek, St. Paul, Minn. He is survived by 12 great-grandchildren. 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 at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lake City with Reverend Merle Lebahn officiating. A visitation will be held at Mahn Funeral Home in Lake City on from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. A private interment will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse.
Memorials are preferred to Fairview Home Care and Hospice, 2450 26th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, Attn: HCHDO. Please notate William Graham for hospice care on your remittance.
www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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