Obituaries & Guestbook

James “Jim” Graf, 75, of Sheboygan, passed away at home on Monday, October 24, 2022. Jim was born in Kiel, Wisconsin on May 2, 1947 to the late Walter “Denny” and T. Marie (Maltby) Graf. Jim attended S.S. Peter and Paul and Kiel High School. Following high school, he attended Appleton Technical College, and was later a member of the first graduating class of Lifelong Learning at Lakeland University.

Jim moved to Sheboygan, WI in 1969 where he began working at Kohler Company. He met the love of his life, Yolanda, and they were married on June 15th, 1974 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Wilson. Jim spent the majority of his career employed by Sheboygan County, including more than 25 years as the Director of Child Support. He also served on the State Child Support Board.

Jim believed that a life well lived was one lived in service of others. In addition to spending 20 years as a City of Sheboygan Alderman, where he sat on and chaired multiple committees, and held the role of President of the Common Council, he also served on many parish boards as a member of Immaculate Conception Parish. Additionally, he was a member of many fraternal and service organizations, including the Kiel Jaycees, Rotary Club of Sheboygan, the Sheboygan Liar’s Club, Travelers Protective Association of America, Loyal Order of Moose, Knights of Columbus where he was a Forth Degree Knight, and the Sheboygan Elks Lodge #299, where he held the title of Exalted Ruler in 2016.

Jim was forever fundraising for the organizations he supported, and never missed an opportunity to ask friends and family to buy raffle tickets, particularly in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Jim loved to travel, and he spent many years as a member of the Mayor’s International Committee, and together with Yolanda, made multiple trips to Sheboygan’s sister city of Esslingen, Germany.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Yolanda; daughters Nicole Graf of Milwaukee and Danielle (Jay) Davis of Holly Springs, NC; stepsister Diane “Dee” Morton (Steven) Saunders of Peoria, AZ; and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, Katherine “Kitty” Duecker Graf, uncle James “Jimmy” and aunt Angeline “Angie” Traas, brothers Charles “Chuck” Graf and Br. Michael Graf. OFM Cap., sister Sue Ann “Sue” Graf Reichwald, stepbrother Kurt Duecker, and stepsister Mary Kay Lorenz Stephen.

Family and friends may gather at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1439 S. 12th Street in Sheboygan on Monday, October 31, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at 12 noon. Fr. Subi Thomas will officiate. Burial to follow in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, staff and volunteers of The Gathering Place, Barbara Gartmann, Ben Gartmann, Katie Lieberg, and the many other family, friends, and neighbors who helped throughout Jim’s illness. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice (https://ssrhospicehome.org/online-donation/), the Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin (https://www.alz.org/wi), Big Brothers Big Sisters WI Shoreline (https://bbbswishoreline.org/donate-individual), or The Gathering Place (http://memorymattersmost.com/donate/).