Submitted by: Dan Rich

Gerald E. Graf

Dec. 8, 1932 - Dec. 27, 2007

South Bend Tribune 12/30/2007

SOUTH BEND - Gerald E. Graf, 75, of North Fort Myers, passed away peacefully at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, after a lengthy illness.

Jerry was born on Dec. 8, 1932, in South Bend, Indiana, to Vaughn and Helen (Price) Graf. He later served in the Army and was a Korean War veteran. Jerry was a bricklayer by trade and a member of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers. He was also a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Jerry married Gloria LaPlaunt on December 5, 1998, who survives. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald Graf; and sisters, Patsy Halderman and JoAnn Skerritt. He is also survived by his three sons, Greg (Janie) Graf of Burnet, Texas, Dennis (Anne) Graf of Plano, Texas, and Rick (Linda) Graf of Plano, Texas; 11 grandchildren; his twin brother, Harold Graf of North Fort Myers; brother, Lawrence Claeys of Denver, Colorado; and a sister, LaVerne (Don) Stout of Indianapolis, Indiana. Jerry is also survived by his extended family, Gloria's children: Bernard LaPlaunt of Marinette, Wisconsin, Debra (Charles) Peterson of Gladstone, Michigan, and Lawrence (Lisa) LaPlaunt of Bolingbrook, Illinois; along with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial Mass honoring Jerry's life will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in St. Therese Catholic Church, North Fort Myers, at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice in Cape Coral or to the American Diabetes Foundation.

Editor: He is a 1951 graduate of John Adams High School.