Hobby & Recreation Group
Wilfred J. McGraw, Sr.
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| Copyright © 2010 Red Lake Net News All Rights Reserved. |
Wilfred Joseph “Willie Bear” McGraw, Sr., 80, of Redby, died Wednesday, Dec.
22, 2010, at the Sanford Hospital in Fargo, N.D. Arrangements are pending with
the Cease Family Fu-neral Home.
A funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the St. Mary’s Mission
Church in Red Lake, with Rev. Jerry Rogers officiating. A wake will begin at noon
on Sunday, Dec. 26, and go until the time of service on Tuesday. Burial will be in
the spring at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Red Lake, under the direction of the
Cease Family Funeral Home.
He was born October 22, 1930 in Red Lake, the son of Julia (Thunder) And
William Joseph McGraw. Willie Bear operated Redby Bait, Tackle & Crafts up
until the time he went into the hospital. He was a musician, artist, hunter, fisherman
and a great friend and advisor to many young people. Willie was a master
electrician and worked for many years in the Twin Cities prior to moving back to
the Red Lake Reservation in 1976 and continued to work as an electrician
subcontractor for many homes built in Red Lake. Willie spent a good part of his life
playing music and had a country music band that played all over Minnesota and
Wisconsin. He spent many afternoons at home playing his guitar. He was a lifelong
entertainer. His music legacy lives on through his grandchildren and great
grandchildren who are musically inclined and are budding performers. In his spare
time he enjoyed watching westerns on TV and eating tootsie rolls.
He is survived by his child-ren, Linda (Terrance) Adams, Valerian “PJ” (Ruth)
McGraw, Wilfred J. “Chum” McGraw, Jr., Carla (Cory) Zavoral, Joseph (Ruth) Saul,
David (Mary) Van Wert McGraw, Lawrence (Robyn) Van Wert and Robert Van
Wert; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-
granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sisters; Viola Fairbanks,
Vivian McGraw, Carol McGraw, Frank McGraw, Allen McGraw and James
McGraw; former spouses Lucille “Ozie” Kelly, Shirley LaDoux Saul, and Gail Van
Wert.
Pallbearers will be his sons Valerian McGraw, Wilfred McGraw, Jr., Joseph Saul,
Lawrence Van Wert, David Van Wert McGraw, Robert Van Wert; sons-in-law
Terrance Adams and Cory Zavoral; gransons Clinton Zeller and Nicholas Zeller.
Honorary Paullbearers will be all his nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.
Messages of condolence may be left at www.ceasefuneralhome.com.
22, 2010, at the Sanford Hospital in Fargo, N.D. Arrangements are pending with
the Cease Family Fu-neral Home.
A funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the St. Mary’s Mission
Church in Red Lake, with Rev. Jerry Rogers officiating. A wake will begin at noon
on Sunday, Dec. 26, and go until the time of service on Tuesday. Burial will be in
the spring at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Red Lake, under the direction of the
Cease Family Funeral Home.
He was born October 22, 1930 in Red Lake, the son of Julia (Thunder) And
William Joseph McGraw. Willie Bear operated Redby Bait, Tackle & Crafts up
until the time he went into the hospital. He was a musician, artist, hunter, fisherman
and a great friend and advisor to many young people. Willie was a master
electrician and worked for many years in the Twin Cities prior to moving back to
the Red Lake Reservation in 1976 and continued to work as an electrician
subcontractor for many homes built in Red Lake. Willie spent a good part of his life
playing music and had a country music band that played all over Minnesota and
Wisconsin. He spent many afternoons at home playing his guitar. He was a lifelong
entertainer. His music legacy lives on through his grandchildren and great
grandchildren who are musically inclined and are budding performers. In his spare
time he enjoyed watching westerns on TV and eating tootsie rolls.
He is survived by his child-ren, Linda (Terrance) Adams, Valerian “PJ” (Ruth)
McGraw, Wilfred J. “Chum” McGraw, Jr., Carla (Cory) Zavoral, Joseph (Ruth) Saul,
David (Mary) Van Wert McGraw, Lawrence (Robyn) Van Wert and Robert Van
Wert; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-
granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sisters; Viola Fairbanks,
Vivian McGraw, Carol McGraw, Frank McGraw, Allen McGraw and James
McGraw; former spouses Lucille “Ozie” Kelly, Shirley LaDoux Saul, and Gail Van
Wert.
Pallbearers will be his sons Valerian McGraw, Wilfred McGraw, Jr., Joseph Saul,
Lawrence Van Wert, David Van Wert McGraw, Robert Van Wert; sons-in-law
Terrance Adams and Cory Zavoral; gransons Clinton Zeller and Nicholas Zeller.
Honorary Paullbearers will be all his nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.
Messages of condolence may be left at www.ceasefuneralhome.com.
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