Ray Juel Graff
Ray Juel Graff was born in Greenbush, Minn., on Sept. 19, 1953, to Ruben Manford Graff and Janet Hilda Graff (Hvamstad). He was baptized and a member of Oiland Free Lutheran Church in Greenbush, MN. Ray attended Haug Country School near Greenbush and graduated from Greenbush High School in 1971 where he was involved in wrestling. After high school he test drove and raced snowmobiles for Arctic Cat and Polaris. His daughter Sarah Jo Pelowski was born October 25, 1975 in Roseau, MN. He then worked for various fiber optic and construction companies until he purchased a backhoe and began his own company “Graff Trenching Service” which he ran from 1982-1986 in the McIntosh, MN area.
His son Jarrid Ray Graff was born on March 7, 1983 and his daughter Janelle Lin Graff was born on June 12, 1987. Ray was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in McIntosh, MN. He worked as a superintendent for Wilde Construction out of Shevlin, MN from 1990-1998 and then worked for Michel’s Pipeline in the Minneapolis, MN area. He moved to Anchorage, AK in 2004 where he worked construction and then retired.
Ray had a heart of gold and he loved his children and grandchildren, playing softball, golfing, deer hunting, ice fishing, snowmobile racing, competing in pool leagues, poker, NASCAR, and watching the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins.
He is survived by his fiancé, Tina Stroman of Anchorage; brother, Roger Graff (Connie) of Anchorage; son, Jarrid Graff (Alicia) of Huron, SD; daughters, Janelle Graff (Chad Haas) of Sauk Rapids, MN, and Sarah Myszewski (Joe) of Bloomer, WI; grandchildren, Tanner and Parker Graff, Justin, Jake and Alexis Myszewski; and nieces, Annie Howell (Graff), Helayne Callies (Graff) and Michela Graff. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Janet Graff, step-mother Martha Graff (Barber), numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Ray Graff passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on May 20, 2016 at his home in Anchorage, Alaska.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00PM, Sunday, July 10, 2016 at Oiland Lutheran Church of rural Greenbush.
Interment will be held at the Badger City Cemetery following services.
Arrangements are with Collins Funeral Home of Greenbush
