DAVID A. GRAESE
David A. Graese, age 63, of Glenwood City, WI died Friday, May 16, 2014 at home with hospice surrounded by family.
David was born April 1, 1951 in New Richmond, WI to Orville & Roberta (Fennie) Graese.
He made Glenwood City his home for most of his life. In 1971 Dave married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Draxler. They were blessed with three children: Jenny, Thomas and Laura.
In 1973 Dave earned a degree in business from UW-Eau Claire. He subsequently went into business with his father to become the third generation to operate Glenwood City Machine Inc. The family business was started by his grandfather Albert as a blacksmith shop and transformed by his father into a manufacturing partnership that manufactured and delivered Gehl forage boxes to five states for more than six decades. Later he and his brother would continue on as partners, transitioning from an agricultural base to a complete building materials supply center. The family business was renamed GCMI Building Supply, but it was known in Glenwood City simply as “the local lumberyard”.
Dave learned from his parents and grandparents the importance of civic responsibility. He was a proud member of the Glenwood City Fire Department for more than 20 years, he also drove ambulance for the GC EMS service. Dave was also active in the Jaycees in Glenwood City, Holy Cross Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and as a Sunday school teacher. Dave was a member of the City Council where he served several terms.
Family was the best part of Dave’s life. He missed very few of the children’s and grandchildren’s events as they grew up. He coached and taxied several teams to events.
Dave is preceded in death by his father Orville and mother- and father-in-law Doris & Bob Draxler.
Dave is survived by wife Nancy Graese; children Jenny (Todd) Myer, Thomas (Christina) Graese and Laura (Marty) Osterberg; Grandchildren Derek & Grace Myer, Brett & Emmalin Graese, Graeson Osterberg, and Dave was looking forward to the birth of his sixth grandchild Cora Bea Osterberg; mother Roberta Graese, sisters and brother Marilyn (Richard) Foss, Michael (Jody) Graese and Wendy (John) Carlson. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Glenwood City with Reverend Bradley Peterson officiating. Burial will be in the Glenwood City Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday May 20, 2014 from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services Wednesday. Local arrangements by the Anderson Funeral Home in Glenwood City.