Otis W. Graves

Graves, Otis W.

Husband, father, grandfather, artist, musician, and a perfect gentleman, passed away on Friday evening September 10, 2004.
Otis was born on October 21, 1917, in Albany, New York. He attended Lake Placid School for Boys and graduated from Pasadena Junior College. He also attended Boston School of Design.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1940 and served until 1945. On July 4, 1942, he married Annajane Grode at St. Thomas Church in Menasha, Wisconsin.
His career included operation of instrument repair shops in South Carolina and Appleton. Otis was a licensed piano tuner technician for 50 years in the Fox Valley.
Otis was an accomplished musician. He played the saxophone in the USO Band, the Green Bay Packer Band, the Beja Shrine Band, and numerous bands in the Fox River Valley throughout his life. He was recognized as the oldest member of the Neenah Community Band at age 85.
Water color painting was his passion. He was a member of the Appleton Gallery of Arts and received Volunteer of the Year Award. He entered his paintings in many juried art shows and received numerous awards.
He was Past Master of Masonic Lodge 51 and a member since 1947. He was an active member of American Legion Post 38 and held offices of Third Vice Commander and Chaplain. He was a member of Beja Shrine and also a member of the Elks Club.
Otis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Annajane (Grode); son Carl and wife Roberta, children Cassie (fiancé Kevin Schneider) and Jennie; son Bill and wife Donna; daughter Annie Ste. Marie and husband Dreux, child Vincent; son Robert and wife Jamie,
children Haley, Hannah, and Hayden.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at 7:00 pm, at the Wichmann Funeral Home, with Father Patrick Twomey and the Masonic Lodge officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home 4:00 p.m. Tuesday until the time of the service. There will be an American Legion visitation at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery in Neenah on Wednesday, September 15, 2004.
“It’s a good day for golf” Otis

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231