Edwin Graber

Ed Graber, 85, of Fargo died Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Sanford Health, surrounded by his family. Edwin (Ed) Erling Graber was born at Hawley, MN on May 24, 1925, three months before John P. and Delila Graber moved their seven children to Fargo. Ed went through the Fargo School System and after graduating from Fargo’s old Central High School in January of 1943 as part of that institutions last mid-year class, he enlisted in the Navy. He spent two of his three years in the Navy attending aviation electronic schools and ended up aboard the USS Princeton, an aircraft carrier assigned to guard the sea lanes around Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This was the second USS Princeton which was a replacement for the ship which was sunk in 1943. His parents both died while he was in the Navy and he returned to pursue a degree in engineering at NDSU in 1946. At NDSU, he was a cartoonist and sports writer for the Spectrum, and was the only engineering major to ever edit the Bison Yearbook. He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. After graduation, Ed turned down several job offers to go to work for Fargo Glass and Paint Co. as salesman in the contract glass division, which turned out to be the only job he ever had. Mr. Graber married Yvonne Bramer in Lake Park, MN on July 1, 1949. With much encouragement from his company, Ed became very active in community affairs. He was Special Events Chairman for the Chamber of Commerce, a major in the United Fund, Exalted Ruler of the Fargo Elks Lodge in 1969, President of the Downtown Rotary Club, and Chairman of the Board of Dakota Hospital for five years. He was also a member of the NDSU Athletic Hall of Fame and Director on the National Glass Marketing Association. He was Steering Committee Member which resulted in the construction of the Fargodome. He served on the Board of Children’s Village and was Chairman of Foundation for Christian Communications (WDAY – Hour of Worship) and Dakota Medical Foundation. He was a member of Fargo and Moorhead Country Clubs and East Gate Lodge of Masonic Order and was a present member of Elks, American Legion, VFW and Sons of Norway. Ed was an avid supporter of Bison athletics. He cherished the relationships he made with the coaches and staff and the memories they shared over the years. Ed is survived by three daughters, Cindy (Ken) Willmann, Bismarck, ND; Sue Cosgriff, Fargo, ND; Kris Lawson, Sheboygan, WI; brother, John Graber, Fargo, ND; sister, Genevieve Korsmo, Fargo, ND; six grandchildren, Chelsie Cosgriff, Jeffrey Willmann, Jodi (Jason) Stout, Keisha Lawson, Samantha Lawson, Jasmine Lawson; and two great-grandchildren, Ava and Noah Stout. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers, Art and Fred; and sisters, Irene Fraser and Hulda McKinnon. Funeral Service: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 10:00 AM at Messiah Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Messiah Lutheran Church followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Memorials are preferred to NDSU Development Foundation, Graber Endowment.