John Michael GRAF

25 NOV 1936 - 10 DEC 2020

• BIRTH: 25 NOV 1936, South Bend, St Joseph, IN
• DEATH: 10 DEC 2020, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 17 AUG 1963

INDEX

[N26633] J. Michael Graf
Nov. 25, 1936 - Dec. 10, 2020

SOUTH BEND, IN - J. Michael Graf, 84, died on December 10, 2020 surrounded by family. Mike, as he was known to all was a life-long resident of South Bend. He grew up across the street from the Drewery's brewery as a member of Holy Cross Parish. He was proud to be part of the first graduating class of St. Joseph's High School in 1954. After he graduated, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving three years in the Korean theater and San Diego before being Honorably Discharged in 1957. He returned to South Bend to work at Martin's Supermarket, a job he had started at the age of 12 as a bag boy. He became the store manager of the first Martin's Supermarket on Portage Avenue and worked there until 1965. He continued in the retail food business for the R.T. French and Fairmont Foods companies and later was the General Manager of Williamsburg Manor in Valparaiso, IN. Always the entrepreneur, he later developed and marketed a unique safety vest. On a ski trip with his life-long best friend Ned Schmitt, he met the love of his life, Judith (Curry) Graf. They were married in 1963 and had three boys who they raised in Corpus Christi Parish. Many neighbors and friends enjoyed the vegetables from his garden or a cold beer on the porch, always delivered with a smile, a hug, and his bigger than life laugh that could be heard a few doors down. His second love was Notre Dame football and he and Judy attended almost every home game for over 40 years. He was a fixture tailgating in the parking lot and entertained family and friends from all over the country on their visits for football weekends. He and Judy retired to a beautiful place on the river where he truly enjoyed the wildlife, his neighbors, and entertaining his grandchildren. Mike fought and won two previous battles with cancer with the help of his friend, Dr. Dan Kletzing. Jill Ross, his speech therapist, helped him talk again after a laryngectomy took his voice box. He became an ambassador and mentor for other victims offering living proof that life can not just go on after cancer, but thrive. Dr. Rafat Ansari helped him through his final battle and the amazing nurses of the Center for Hospice Care made sure he was able to pass comfortably in his beloved house on the river. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Curry) Graf; sons, John Graf of Northfield, IL, Timothy Graf (Ronni) of Boca Raton, FL, and Patrick Graf (Kirsten) of Highland Park, IL; six grandchildren, Jack, Kathleen, Liam, Sam, Sophia, and Finn; his sister, Larene Hark of Rice, MN and many nephews and nieces who had a very special bond with their Uncle Mike. He is preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Graf, his mother, Irene (Healy) Graf, his sister, Jean Marie (Graf) Gryp, and brothers-in-law, Theodore Gryp and Ed Hark. A private memorial Mass will be held for the immediate family and a public memorial service will be announced when public health permits. The family asks that memorial tributes be made to Hospice Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com. Published in South Bend Tribune on Dec. 13, 2020.