Joseph A. Graber

Aug. 10, 1931-July 25, 2008

Joseph A. Graber, 76, 16329 C.R. 18, Goshen, died at 2:50 p.m. Friday at Elkhart General Hospital after a five-month illness.

He was born Aug. 10, 1931, in Arthur, Ill., to Abraham and Katie (Marner) Graber. He moved to this area when he was 16 years old.

On May 26, 1962, he married Dora Troyer in Middlebury.

He was a truck driver who worked for Midwest Haulers, Chicago, for 20 years and for Transitall, Chicago, Ill., for 10 years. He worked 13 years at Jayco, Middlebury, in transportation. After retirement, Joe worked for GDC Inc., Goshen, until his illness this spring.

He was an avid horseshoe pitcher for the last 20 years and a member and current president of the Indiana Horseshoe Pitching Association. Joe enjoyed traveling to and camping at World Horseshoe and Indiana State Tournaments.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the Korean War and a member of the American Legion Post 210, Middlebury. He was a member of the First Mennonite Church, Middlebury.

Survivors include his wife, Dora Graber; daughter, Tonya (Mark) Eveler, Goshen; sons Joseph Scott (Joy) Graber, Jeff (Tamara) Graber, and Ted (Rolonda) Graber, all of Goshen; grandchildren Heather Graber, Jared Graber, Brant Graber, Drew Graber, Dani Perks, Jordan Perks, Alexis Graber, Kelsey Graber, Conner Graber, Owen Eveler, Oliver Eveler, Jackson Graber and Sidney Eveler; great-grandchildren, Cole and Chloe Graber; and brother John (Annie) Graber, Goshen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother George Graber; and sister Martha Crapo.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury.

Funeral services will take place Tuesday at 10 a.m. at First Mennonite Church, Middlebury. The Revs. Linford Martin, Pamela Yoder and Ron Spyker will conduct the service.

Burial will be in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury, with military graveside services conducted by the American Legion Post 210, Middlebury.

Memorials may be given to the American Legion Post 210, Middlebury or the Middlebury Food Pantry.

Online condolences may be sent to millerstewartfuneralhome.com.

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